trial of ketogenic diet for primary brain cancer proposed

[Lani]

doesn't mention if ever tried for mets:

Ketogenic Diet Effective Against Experimental Brain Cancer

By Will Boggs, MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 29 - A calorically restricted ketogenic diet decreases the growth of malignant brain tumors in a mouse model, according to a report in the online BioMed Central journal Nutrition & Metabolism, published February 21.

"In contrast to most conventional brain tumor therapies, which are largely ineffective, are excessively costly, and can diminish the length and quality of life, the calorically restricted ketogenic diet is a natural therapeutic approach to brain cancer management that is based on the principles of evolutionary biology and metabolic control theory," Dr. Thomas N. Seyfried told Reuters Health.

Dr. Seyfried and associates at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts evaluated the efficacy of KetoCal, a ketogenic diet formulated for managing refractory epilepsy in children, in mice implanted with a malignant mouse astrocytoma and a human malignant glioma.

Intracerebral growth of the two tumors was reduced from 35% to 65% in mice given restricted amounts of KetoCal, compared with mice receiving unrestricted normal or KetoCal diets, the researchers report.

Survival was also significantly longer among mice receiving the restricted KetoCal diet, the results indicate.

Plasma glucose levels were significantly lower and circulating beta-hydroxybutyrate levels significantly higher in mice fed the restricted KetoCal diet, the researchers note.

"Our studies in mice were motivated in part by the previous studies of Linda Nebeling and co-workers who showed that a calorically restricted medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) ketogenic diet was effective for the long-term management of malignant brain cancer in children," Dr. Seyfried explained. "Our work in mice strongly supports the original study."

He concluded: "It is important that clinical trials be initiated as soon as possible on the calorically restricted ketogenic diet for brain cancer management. These trials could be conducted at any medical center or clinic currently using the ketogenic diet as a therapy for refractory epileptic seizures."

Nutrition & Metabolism 2007;4.

[Rich66]

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2007 Feb 21;4:5. Links

The calorically restricted ketogenic diet, an effective alternative therapy for malignant brain cancer.

Zhou W, Mukherjee P, Kiebish MA, Markis WT, Mantis JG, Seyfried TN.
Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, USA. zhouwb@bc.edu
BACKGROUND: Malignant brain cancer persists as a major disease of morbidity and mortality in adults and is the second leading cause of cancer death in children. Many current therapies for malignant brain tumors fail to provide long-term management because they ineffectively target tumor cells while negatively impacting the health and vitality of normal brain cells. In contrast to brain tumor cells, which lack metabolic flexibility and are largely dependent on glucose for growth and survival, normal brain cells can metabolize both glucose and ketone bodies for energy. This study evaluated the efficacy of KetoCal, a new nutritionally balanced high fat/low carbohydrate ketogenic diet for children with epilepsy, on the growth and vascularity of a malignant mouse astrocytoma (CT-2A) and a human malignant glioma (U87-MG). METHODS: Adult mice were implanted orthotopically with the malignant brain tumors and KetoCal was administered to the mice in either unrestricted amounts or in restricted amounts to reduce total caloric intake according to the manufacturers recommendation for children with refractory epilepsy. The effects KetoCal on tumor growth, vascularity, and mouse survival were compared with that of an unrestricted high carbohydrate standard diet. RESULTS: KetoCal administered in restricted amounts significantly decreased the intracerebral growth of the CT-2A and U87-MG tumors by about 65% and 35%, respectively, and significantly enhanced health and survival relative to that of the control groups receiving the standard low fat/high carbohydrate diet. The restricted KetoCal diet reduced plasma glucose levels while elevating plasma ketone body (beta-hydroxybutyrate) levels. Tumor microvessel density was less in the calorically restricted KetoCal groups than in the calorically unrestricted control groups. Moreover, gene expression for the mitochondrial enzymes, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA: 3-ketoacid CoA transferase, was lower in the tumors than in the contralateral normal brain suggesting that these brain tumors have reduced ability to metabolize ketone bodies for energy. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that KetoCal has anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects in experimental mouse and human brain tumors when administered in restricted amounts. The therapeutic effect of KetoCal for brain cancer management was due largely to the reduction of total caloric content, which reduces circulating glucose required for rapid tumor growth. A dependency on glucose for energy together with defects in ketone body metabolism largely account for why the brain tumors grow minimally on either a ketogenic-restricted diet or on a standard-restricted diet. Genes for ketone body metabolism should be useful for screening brain tumors that could be targeted with calorically restricted high fat/low carbohydrate ketogenic diets. This preclinical study indicates that restricted KetoCal is a safe and effective diet therapy and should be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for malignant brain cancer.

[Rich66]

The link to the lead researcher: http://www.bc.edu/schools/cas/biolog.../seyfried.html

[Rich66]

Regarding relevance to other cancers, you didn't hear it from me:

"The restricted ketogenic diet seems to be more effective against brain cancer than against other cancers. You are correct in thinking that other cancers besides brain cancer should respond. This is in fact the case, but brain cancers seem to respond better than other cancers.
There is one person that I know, with metastatic melanoma, who has responded well to the restricted ketogenic diet. However, this person also fasted (water only) for at least one week. Fasting, can kill many tumor cells and also reduces tumor-associated inflammation.

We are working on modifications of the restricted ketogenic diet for systemic metastatic cancers, but our studies are still in progress. Many metastatic cancers are a disease of macrophages, the most powerful cell in the body. These cells tough to kill, but we are making progress. Our goal is to kill the metastatic tumor cells without killing normal cells or making patients sick."

[R.B.]

Thanks for posting

Interesting

Were the diets otherwise matched as Ketocal has a number of ingredients apart form fats. (See link) http://www.myketocal.com/product.html#4

How far were calories restricted.

Ketocal contain hydrogenated soy and palm oil; it would be interesting to know the proportion of fats and hydrogenated fats it contains, and how it would compare with a keto diet based on short chain fats, low Omega 6 and some long chain Omega 3.

Keto diets have also shown promise for other neurological conditions but they used short chain saturates like those found in coconut fat.