Methods and Nutritional Formulations to Increase the Efficacy and Reduce the Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of protecting patients and sensitizing cancer cells in combination with chemotherapy and / or radiation therapy. More specifically, the invention provides nutritional methods and formulations that are capable of reducing cancer growth without causing chronic weight loss in patients, protecting normal cells, tissues and organs from chemotherapy and / radiation therapy, and sensitizing cancer cells against low, normal and high-dose chemotherapy. Some of the methods also impede cancer growth even without chemotherapy.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 61 / 254,154 filed Oct. 22, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates in general to diet and cancer treatment. More specifically, the invention provides methods that may be used to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs, while protecting normal cells.BACKGROUND[0003]Chemotherapy can extend survival in patients diagnosed with a wide range of malignancies. However, toxic side-effects to normal cells and tissues limits chemotherapy dose intensity, frequency, and efficacy. For instance, the cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with the widely prescribed anti-cancer drugs, doxorubicin and cisplatin, respectively, limit their full therapeutic potential (Rajagopalan, S. Cancer Res. 1988; Hale, J. P. Arch. Dis. Child 1994; Dobyan, D. C., J. Pharmacol. E.T 1980; Fillastre, J....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Against this prior art background, a method for alleviating cancer growth or a symptom of cancer is provided. The method of this embodiment includes a step in which a patient with cancer is identified and then provided with a first diet for a first predetermined period of time. The first diet provides the patient with at most 50% of the patient's normal caloric intake with at least 50% of the kilocalories being derived from fat, preferably monounsaturated. The patient is then provided with a second diet for a second predetermined period of time. The second diet provides the patient with at most 500 kcal / day. The patient is then provided with a third diet that optimizes weight regain and the replenishment of essential nutrients required for optimal recovery and health of normal cells and organs. The present embodiment provides a short-term modified diet protocol that is effective in protecting normal cells and impeding and retarding cancer cell growth. The protocol and modified diet will promote these effects without causing chronic weight loss in patients,

[0008]In another embodiment, a method of sensitizing cancer to chemotherapy drugs is provided. The method includes a step in which a patient with cancer is identified and then provided with a first diet for a first predetermined period of time. The first diet provides the patient with at most 50% of the patient's normal caloric intake with at least 50% of the kilocalories being derived from fat. The patient is then provided with a second diet for a second predetermined period of time. The second diet provides the patient with at most 500 kcal / day. The patient is then provided with a third diet that optimizes weight regain and the replenishment of essential nutrients required for optimal recovery and health of normal cells and organs. The present embodiment provides a short-term modified diet protocol that is effective in protecting normal cells and sensitizing cancer from / to chemotherapy (Differential Stress Resistance). The protocol and modified diet will promote these effects without causing chronic weight loss in patients.

[0010]In still another embodiment, a method of sensitizing cancer to radiation therapy is provided. The method includes a step in which a patient with cancer is identified and then provided with a first diet for a first predetermined period of time. The first diet provides the patient with at most 50% of the patient's normal caloric intake with at least 50% of the kilocalories being derived from fat. The patient is then provided with a second diet for a second predetermined period of time. The second diet provides the patient with at most 500 kcal / day. The patient is then provided with a third diet that optimizes weight regain and the replenishment of essential nutrients required for optimal recovery and health of normal cells and organs. The present embodiment provides a short-term modified diet protocol that is effective in protecting normal cells and sensitizing cancer from / to radiation therapy (Differential Stress Resistance). The protocol and modified diet will promote these effects without causing chronic weight loss in patients.

Problems solved by technology

However, toxic side-effects to normal cells and tissues limits chemotherapy dose intensity, frequency, and efficacy.

Calorie restriction has also been shown to delay cancer growth, but its effect is small and it cannot be combined with chemotherapy nor can it be applied alone, since it requires a long-term weight loss which is detrimental to cancer patients and also very difficult to maintain.

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