The Ketogenic Diet for the Adjuvant Treatment of Malignant Brain Tumors

Abstract

Malignant brain tumors are nearly uniformly fatal due, in part, to the limitations of current treatment including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Improvements in survival and quality of life require new approaches, especially those that potentiate currently available therapies without increasing toxicity. Tumor cells have an increased reliance on glucose, and it is now known that many of the pathways that promote tumor cell growth and therapy resistance intersect with metabolic pathways. This suggests that alteration of metabolism through the use of a ketogenic diet, which reduces blood glucose and increases blood ketones, may be beneficial for the treatment of malignant tumors. Current research shows that the ketogenic diet reduces tumor growth, affects growth factor-signaling pathways, reduces angiogenesis and inflammation, and may potentiate the activity of currently used therapies without increased side effects or toxicity. Targeting the metabolism via dietary means offers a new and effective paradigm for the treatment of malignant cancers.