UA diet (or rather a dietary style) rich in fiber can significantly improve the prevention or outcome of serious diseases such as myeloma and other types of cancer.
By some estimates, over 60% of our body’s immune cells reside in the gut. But only recently have we accumulated sufficient evidence that the gut microbiome can be “modified” to positively influence the outcome of cancer treatments, including immunotherapy. It is discussed during theInternational Cancer Immunotheray Conference (CICON23) underway in Milan. An event organized by international scientific societies together with Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy (NIBIT) until September 23rd.
Diet rich in fiber and tumors: which foods to choose
Apples, pears, plums and kiwis. But also walnuts, pistachios and peanuts. And then beans, chickpeas, lentils. It’s still, carrots, aubergines, artichokes, cereals And dark chocolate. They are all foods rich in fiber capable of “nourishing” the microbiomethat is, the set of microorganisms hosted by the intestine, which can increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Multiple myeloma and the microbiome: a trial soon
By next year, it is scheduled to San Raffaele of Milan a new clinical trial involving the administration of a Controlled high-fiber diet in patients with indolent myeloma. According to the latest scientific evidence, the eating habits and foods rich in fibre can significantly affect the the body’s response to anticancer treatmentsincluding immunotherapy.
Fecal transplants: what are they and what are they for?
The researchers present atInternational Cancer Immunotheray Conference (CICON23) they explained that they are ongoing research on fecal transplants and studies that aim to confirm the powerful effects that fatty acids exert on the immune response against tumors. To take stock of the latest news on tumor immunotherapy and how this can be modulated by the intestinal microbiome are over a thousand scientists from over 38 countries around the world.
Some research groups are trying to overcome resistance to immunotherapy by performing fecal transplants: i “good” gut microbes they come taken from stool samples of patients who responded well to the drugs For then be transplanted via colonoscopy to another patient.
Diet and microbiome influence the immune response
«Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many tumors – he explains Pier Francesco Ferrucci, director of the Tumor Biotherapy Unit at the European Institute of Oncology and president of NIBIT. However, not all patients respond the same way.
Hence the hypothesis, which has now become a certainty, that the composition of a patient’s gut microbiome influences the success of immunotherapy treatment. In essence, patients who harbor certain intestinal bacteria appear to respond better to immunotherapy than patients who do not.”
Diet with more fiber improves cancer treatment
Recent scientific evidence has also confirmed that a high fiber diet could make cancer treatment more likely to be effectiveAnd. “That the microbiome be a part crucial to our immune system we have known this for some time now”, he adds Vincenzo Brontescientific director of the Veneto Oncology Institute and next-president of NIBIT.
In the intestine more than 60% of immune cells
«According to some estimates, over 60% of immune cells of the body reside in the intestine. But only recently have we accumulated sufficient evidence that these microbes can be ‘modified’ to positively influence the outcome of cancer treatments, including immunotherapy,” explains Bronte.
The “tailor-made” diet
Another path suggested by the experts present at the Congress is that of design ad hoc diets, rich in fibrecapable of modifying the microbiota in order to make it “ally” of immunotherapy. «In this regard we are planning a clinical trial on patients suffering from indolent myeloma – he states Matteo Bellonehead of the Cellular Immunology Unit at the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, among the organizers of CICON23 -.
We will propose to patients a controlled diet rich in fiber with the aim of understanding its effects, not only on the composition of the intestinal microbiome, but also on the metabolic modifications of the organism, on the course and prognosis of the disease”.
Fiber diet: if cholesterol is ok, immunotherapy works better
«Recent studies demonstrate how the altered metabolism of cholesterol and lipids is able to influence the functionality of immune cells – he states Vincenzo Russoassociate professor of General Pathology at the Faculty of Medicine of Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, among the organizers of CICON23 -.
With the Professor Paolo Asciertoprimary oncologist at the National Cancer Institute of Naples, we will present clinical results on greater effectiveness of immunotherapy in combination with treatments blocking cholesterol synthesis”.
Correct nutrition: this makes chemo more successful
He will also take part in CICON23 Arlene Sharpe, scientist at the prestigious Harvard University, engaged in studying the mechanisms that allow the intestinal microbiota to influence the immune response to immune checkpoints. «An entire session will be dedicated to how nutrition affects the immune system and the cpatient’s ability to respond, not only to immunotherapy, but also to more traditional treatments such as chemotherapy – concludes Matteo Bellone -.
In fact, we know that some foods expand a healthy microbiota that aids the immune response against tumors. Of course it is important that the nutrition and use of probiotics are suggested by experts not only of nutrition but also of the disease in question. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a worsening of the disease when patients did not seek expert advice. So, yes to personalized nutrition, but under the supervision of your trusted oncologist».
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