There has been many theories proposed about how to “starve cancer”. And many have gone down rabbit holes chasing unproven theories about how to do so. Unfortunately, IMO, they simply do not work. Cancers are very metabolically flexible. They will take what they need to survive and grow and adapt to whatever nutrients are available. They will eat what we eat. Staving ourselves to attempt to starve cancer is a path to poor health status, sarcopenia, wasting, cachexia.
However, that may generally be true, yet perhaps there are exceptions. There is a category of medicines used for T2 Diabetes that inhibits the growth and progression of multiple cancers. They may have a role in Prostate Cancer that has progressed to be predominantly using glucose for energy and building materials for growth. (Usually an advanced stage of mCRPC that is identified by FDG glucose PET scan showing high glucose uptake.
The medicines are called Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors, SGLPT-2 inhibitors. These are widely used for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome not controlled on Metformin. They have an excellent safety profile and do not increase risks of cardiovascular nor progressive renal disease. The main examples are canaglifozin and dapaglifozin. These have now been shown to reduce progression in multiple cancers including gastrointestinal, pancreatic, liver, breast, endometrial and NSCLC (lung). Cell studies (in vitro) have shown positive effects on prostate cancer lines, so this is emerging.
The SGLT2 inhibitors have multiple cell signaling pathway effects. However, their main mode of action is to inhibit one of the main mechanisms in the gut for absorbing glucose. It seems that many cancers can co-opt this same transport mechanism so they can take in large amounts of glucose to fuel and provide nutrients for growth. So inhibiting this transport mechanism can help deprive the cancer of this source. This is especially important for those patients who have T2D as well as their cancer. Yet the same mechanism may be in operation for non-diabetics with glucose utilizing cancers. (As per the “Warberg effect”).
This promising line of additional therapy might not be effective at early stages of even advanced prostate cancer that predominantly utilize fats. But perhaps a positive FDG PET scan will identify the “glucose addicted” populations that may benefits. See also below about SGLPT2 inhibitor to enhance radiotherapy. Time will tell. This is a very active area of research to watch.
MateoBeach / Paul
Effects of novel SGLT2 inhibitors on cancer incidence in hyperglycemic patients: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
sciencedirect.com/science/a...
The SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin suppresses growth and enhances prostate cancer response to radiotherapy