A ketogenic diet, a simple dietary supplement, may enhance the effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy in killing cancer cells. According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, this approach targets T cells with the keto diet rather than genetic engineering.
Researchers tested various diets on mice and found that a ketogenic diet improved tumor control and survival rates compared to other diets. They discovered that beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a metabolite produced by the liver in response to a keto diet, is key to this effect.
The study suggests that CAR T cells prefer BHB as a fuel source instead of glucose. Increasing BHB levels can boost CAR T cell function and improve cancer-fighting abilities. The researchers also found similar results in patient samples and healthy volunteers.
A Phase I clinical trial is underway at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center to test the effectiveness of this approach. If the study yields positive results, it could lead to a cost-effective strategy to enhance anti-cancer effects through dietary interventions or other traditional approaches.
While more research is needed before recommendations can be made, this preliminary study shows promise in the fight against cancer.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-keto-diet-metabolite-power-car.html