Being in a state of insulin resistance can accelerate tumor growth in humans, highlighting the importance of metabolic health in cancer prevention and management.
The ideal metabolic situation is to prevent insulin levels from getting high, as this can have detrimental effects on health, including accelerating tumor growth.
Focus on maintaining insulin sensitivity rather than just body mass index (BMI) for cancer risk, as insulin-resistant individuals (whether overweight or lean) show increased cancer risk.
Based on empirical observation of the link between increased sugar consumption and obesity, eliminate sweet drinks and desserts from your diet.
Consuming sugar in liquid form allows fructose to reach the colon, directly feeding polyp growth, whereas the same amount in solid food would be absorbed before reaching the colon.
Colorectal polyps grow faster when both fructose and glucose are consumed together, with fructose driving the kinetics and glucose providing the carbon atoms for growth.
High sugar consumption can significantly accelerate the growth and aggressiveness of colorectal polyps, even without causing obesity or insulin resistance, suggesting a direct feeding mechanism for tumor growth.
The natural combination of glucose and fructose, especially in liquid form, is uniquely problematic for health due to its chronic toxicity and ability to drive specific cancer growth.
The key difference in sugar consumption is whether it’s embedded in fibrous whole fruit (like an apple) or pure in water (like apple juice), as whole fruit slows absorption and prevents glucose spikes.
Eating whole fruit leads to slower sugar absorption and minimal glucose spikes, unlike fruit juice which causes rapid spikes, thus preventing high insulin release.
When considering metabolic health, prioritize managing insulin levels, as high insulin is a key concern, even if glucose levels appear to be in line.
Understand that high levels of insulin can drive the growth of cancer cells, a phenomenon observed in cell cultures for decades.
To maximize the efficacy of PI3 kinase inhibitors in shrinking tumors, combine them with either an SGLT2 inhibitor or a ketogenic diet (8% slow-release carb, 80% fat, 12% protein), as both dramatically lower insulin.
If you have cancer and are on a PI3 kinase inhibitor, a ketogenic diet is recommended for its effectiveness, but an SGLT2 inhibitor is a good, easier-to-take second-best option.
For optimal effectiveness when using a ketogenic diet with PI3 kinase inhibitors, begin the diet a full week prior to starting the inhibitor to deplete glycogen stores.
For pancreatic cancer (especially KRAS, P53 mutant types), a ketogenic diet alone or a PI3 kinase inhibitor alone may not be effective, but their combination can lead to complete tumor disappearance.
If undergoing cancer treatment with a PI3 kinase inhibitor and experiencing hyperglycemia, avoid insulin or insulin secretagogues, as these can raise serum insulin and reactivate tumor growth.
For patients on PI3 kinase inhibitors, metformin is the preferred method for managing hyperglycemia; if it’s insufficient, other insulin-raising treatments should be avoided.
SGLT2 inhibitors, which cause glucose to be excreted in the urine, are an effective way to lower both glucose and insulin levels.
When taking PI3 kinase inhibitors, eat a low-carbohydrate, high-fat breakfast (e.g., scrambled eggs, avocado, high-fat yogurt with almonds) to limit toxicities, increase absorption, and avoid sugary items like juice or Ensure.
To maximize the benefits of insulin-management strategies in cancer therapy, maintain a strict low-carbohydrate diet throughout the day, as even evening high-glucose meals can impact morning glucose and insulin levels.
Do not automatically adopt a ketogenic diet for cancer without medical supervision, as it may have adverse effects in certain cancer types (e.g., AML), even though it’s generally healthy for normal individuals.
Measuring insulin receptor levels on a tumor can help customize cancer therapy, as high levels may indicate a favorable response to approaches that manage insulin.
For certain cancers and mutational backgrounds, restricting amino acids like serine or methionine in the diet can make specific drugs more effective by selectively depriving cancer cells of nucleotide precursors.
Recognize that combining specific dietary interventions with targeted drug therapies represents a significant and innovative frontier in cancer treatment.
Consider pharmaceuticalized dietary interventions, such as precisely prepared meals with specific compositions, as a viable adjunct therapy for cancer patients to ensure adherence and optimize outcomes.
To improve cancer care, oncologists should deepen their understanding of cancer metabolism to effectively manage predictable complications of certain medications, such as hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, which are desired features when using these drugs correctly.
Strive to translate scientific observations from the laboratory into practical changes in behavior, medical practice, drug metabolism, and diet to effectively address diseases like diabetes and cancer.
In scientific research, when you encounter an unexpected result, focus intensely on understanding the biochemical and chemical reasons behind it, as this is often where breakthroughs occur.
When a result doesn’t make sense, view it as an exciting opportunity, as it often indicates a more complex underlying mechanism and can lead to significant breakthroughs if investigated thoroughly.
When teaching science, focus on the process of discovery, the stories of experiments, and the thinking involved, rather than rote memorization of facts, to better engage and screen for interested scientists.
To combat high sugar consumption, consider public health strategies similar to those used for tobacco, such as reducing advertisements for sugary foods (especially to children) and implementing taxes to make sugar more expensive.
If you or someone you know has stage four breast or endometrial cancer, look for enrollment information for the upcoming PI3 kinase alpha inhibitor trial from Petra Pharmaceuticals, which will be registered on clinicaltrials.gov.
Always discuss combinations of therapies, including drugs for diabetes, cancer, and nutritional therapies, with your physician, as the podcast does not provide medical advice.