Breaking News: Fasting-Mimicking Diet Shows Promise in Treating Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Ifom in Milan has shown promising results in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) using a combination of fasting-mimicking diet and targeted pharmacological therapy. CLL is the most widespread type of leukemia in Western countries, with an incidence rate of 1-2 cases per year per 100,000 people.
The study, led by renowned scientist Valter Longo, found that the fasting-mimicking diet can contribute to the regression of CLL, particularly in patients with indolent forms of the disease. By neutralizing tumor lymphocytes and reducing levels of growth factors, the diet appears to slow down tumor progression.
In experiments with mice suffering from leukemia, the researchers observed that the fasting-mimicking diet, when combined with targeted drugs bortezomib and rituximab, significantly enhanced the effects of the diet against the pathology. This combination blocked ‘escape routes’ activated during fasting, leading to increased programmed cell death and improved survival rates in the mice.
While the results are promising, the researchers caution that larger studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this treatment strategy. If validated in clinical studies, the integration of cyclic fasting with targeted non-chemotherapeutic drugs could provide a new and innovative therapeutic approach for CLL patients, especially older individuals who may experience strong side effects from traditional treatments.
This groundbreaking research, supported by the Airc Foundation and published in the journal ‘Cancer Research,’ highlights the potential of combining dietary interventions with targeted therapies in the fight against leukemia. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in cancer treatment.