What does cancer eat? Sugar, mostly, and other lessons

totem12

Skimmed over, curious to know more about how this research was carried out - particularly the comment on 'lactic acid secretion lowering cellular pH'. The body has very fine tuned homeostatic mechanisms to prevent this sort of thing happening, which makes me think the study is being carried out in a dish of cells. Also, of course uncontrollably replicating cells will have a higher energy requirement! From seminars I've attended on the subject, it seems that a crucial point of much cancer development comes AFTER the immune system has already failed to recognise it - at the point of vascularisation. But then 'cancer' is the most multi-faceted disease around and each cancer can have a completely different 'cause': immune system failure/cellular checkpoint failure/DNA replication failure/viral infection/mutagenic chemicals/nutrition.

neanderthin

Skimmed over, curious to know more about how this research was carried out - particularly the comment on 'lactic acid secretion lowering cellular pH'. The body has very fine tuned homeostatic mechanisms to prevent this sort of thing happening, which makes me think the study is being carried out in a dish of cells. Also, of course uncontrollably replicating cells will have a higher energy requirement! From seminars I've attended on the subject, it seems that a crucial point of much cancer development comes AFTER the immune system has already failed to recognise it - at the point of vascularisation. But then 'cancer' is the most multi-faceted disease around and each cancer can have a completely different 'cause': immune system failure/cellular checkpoint failure/DNA replication failure/viral infection/mutagenic chemicals/nutrition.

I agree. Lifestyle along with diet probably have more of an effect on cancer types. Just looking at different nations and the propensity for certain cancers is interesting.

mccindy72

Absolutely, completely, depends on the type of cancer (there are literally thousands of types), and what types of genetic deletions and responses each type of cancer has. Some may respond to dietary changes, and some may not. The most fatal type of cancer, Glioblastoma Multiforme, which is a Grade IV Astrocytoma in the brain, does not typically respond to dietary changes, cannot be treated with the typical forms of chemotherapy, and kills the majority of patients within 12-24 months. It creates its own blood supply.

Sugar is an inflammatory substance, and as such, can have a detrimental effect on some forms of cancer when consumed in large amounts. It is wise to consume it in moderation, just as it is wise to consume any food product in moderation.

Studies in mice and rats often offer hope in the form of responses and treatments, but as those of us who are waiting for a cure for brain cancers have found, the mouse brain is very differerent from the human brain in both its ability to develop cancerous tumors and respond to treatments for them. The cure is still in the future, and it doesn't lie in sugar avoidance.