Diet supplement may boost ‘cancer-killing cells’ claims study

A ‘relatively cheap’ and simple supplement may be the key to improving cancer treatment, according to ground-breaking new research. The study, led by the University of Pennsylvania, delved into various diets and their components to determine how they might amplify ‘CAR T cell function’.

These cells, also known as ‘chimeric antigen receptor T cells’, play a pivotal role in certain blood cancer therapies. They aim to reprogramme your body’s own T cells toto attack and destroy cancer cells, although success rates can vary.

Remarkably, the US-based team now suggest its chances may be boosted if cancer patients opt for a ketogenic diet or supplement. According to , these pills are typically ‘marketed as being able to put you into a state of ketosis’, referring to the state in which your body breaks down fat instead of carbohydrates for energy.

They are often taken as part of highly restrictive weight loss diets, though WebMD suggests there are a number of potential health risks associated with this. Co-lead author, Shan Liu, PhD, explained: “Thousands of patients with blood cancers have been successfully treated with CAR T cell therapy, but it still doesn’t work for everyone.

“We took an outside-the-box approach to improve CAR T cell therapy, by targeting T cells through diet rather than further genetic engineering.”

In their study, the team examined the impact of various diets – including ketogenic, high-fibre, high-fat, and high cholesterol – on mice, in comparison to a control diet. Results showed ‘improved tumour control and survival in the mice receiving a ketogenic diet compared to all other diets’.

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Scientists said a key ‘mediator’ of this was a metabolite called ‘beta-hydroxybutyrate’ (BHB), created by the liver in response to a ketogenic diet. Research specialist and co-leader Puneeth Guruprasad, PhD, explained: “Our theory is that CAR T cells prefer BHB as a fuel source rather than standard sugars in our body, such as glucose.

“So, increasing the levels of BHB in the body gives the CAR T cells more power to take out the cancer cells.” In light of this, scientists are now testing their BHB supplement theory in a Phase I clinical trial at the university’s Abramson Cancer Centre.

Assistant professor of Microbiology, Mayan Levy, added: “We’re talking about an intervention that is relatively cheap and has low toxicity potential. If the clinical trial data pans out, I’m excited to think about how a fairly simple approach like this could be combined with dietary interventions or other, more traditional approaches, to enhance the anti-cancer effect.”

Source: bing.com