Fasting may help chemo

ASCO 2026: Fasting boosts chemotherapy responses for ovarian cancer patients

https://tinyurl.com/5xvffb8k

A pilot clinical study has suggested that fasting before and after chemotherapy may be protective, with better survival.

This group of 36 women with advanced serous ovarian cancer underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with three cycles of treatment. For half of the group during the 36 hours before chemo and for 24 hours afterwards, they underwent calorie restriction of less than 350 calories daily. The other half had normal diets.

Those women who fasted had significantly lower insulin levels than the control group. Insulin plays an important role in cancer treatment; cancer cells exhibit increased insulin receptor expression, thereby triggering an essential metabolic survival mechanism. Reducing circulating insulin causes cancer cell death.

Results from the study showed an improved response to neoadjuvant chemo with better clearance. Also, data at 18 months suggested longer cancer-free survival. The authors say further clinical trials are indicated to confirm this benefit.