In a message dated 1/26/03 12:41:20 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:


> Nebeling LC, Miraldi F, Shurin SB, Lerner E. Effects of a ketogenic diet
> on tumor metabolism and nutritional status in pediatric oncology
> patients: two case reports.J Am Coll Nutr. 1995 Apr;14(2):202-8.
> and
> Beck SA, Tisdale MJ. Effect of insulin on weight loss and tumour growth
> in a cachexia model. Br J Cancer. 1989 May;59(5):677-81.
>
>
>

Here's the abstracts for the above articles plus one:

Ketogenic Diet for Cancer
J Am Diet Assoc 1995 Jun;95(6):693-697 Implementing a ketogenic diet based on
medium-chain triglyceride oil in pediatric patients with cancer.
 Nebeling LC, Lerner E Traditionally, a ketogenic diet is given to
drug-resistant children with epilepsy to improve seizure control. Inducing a
ketogenic state in patients with cancer may be a useful adjunct to cancer
treatment by affecting tumor glucose metabolism and growth while maintaining
the patient's nutritional status. A ketogenic diet consisting of 60%
medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 20% protein, 10% carbohydrate, and 10%
other dietary fats was provided to a select group of pediatric patients with
advanced-stage cancer to test the effects of dietary-induced ketosis on tumor
glucose metabolism. Issues of tolerance and compliance for patients consuming
an oral diet (consisting of normal table foods and daily MCT oil "shakes")
and for patients receiving an enteral formula are reviewed. Preliminary use
of the MCT oil-based diet suggests a potential in pediatric patients with
cancer. Publication Types:
* Review
* Review, tutorial
PMID: 7759747, UI: 95279660

 Effects of a ketogenic diet on tumor metabolism and nutritional status in
pediatric oncology patients: two case reports.
J Am Coll Nutr 1995 Apr;14(2):202-208
 Nebeling LC, Miraldi F, Shurin SB, Lerner E
 Nutrition Department, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine,
Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
 OBJECTIVE: Establish dietary-induced ketosis in pediatric oncology patients
to determine if a ketogenic state would decrease glucose availability to
certain tumors, thereby potentially impairing tumor metabolism without
adversely affecting the patient's overall nutritional status.
 DESIGN: Case report.
 SETTING: University Hospitals of Cleveland.
 SUBJECTS: Two female pediatric patients with advanced stage malignant
Astrocytoma tumors.
 INTERVENTIONS: Patients were followed as outpatients for 8 weeks. Ketosis
was maintained by consuming a 60% medium chain triglyceride oil-based diet.
 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tumor glucose metabolism was assessed by Positron
Emission Tomography (PET), comparing [Fluorine-18] 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose
(FDG) uptake at the tumor site before and following the trial period.
 RESULTS: Within 7 days of initiating the ketogenic diet, blood glucose
levels declined to low-normal levels and blood ketones were elevated twenty
to thirty fold. Results of PET scans indicated a 21.8% average decrease in
glucose uptake at the tumor site in both subjects. One patient exhibited
significant clinical improvements in mood and new skill development during
the study. She continued the ketogenic diet for an additional twelve months,
remaining free of disease progression.
 CONCLUSION: While this diet does not replace conventional antineoplastic
treatments, these preliminary results suggest a potential for clinical
application which merits further research.
 PMID: 7790697, UI: 95310706 posted 10/28/98


Keto Tumor Reduction
Br J Cancer 1989 May;59(5):677-681
 Effect of insulin on weight loss and tumour growth in a cachexia model.
 Beck SA, Tisdale MJ
 Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
 A comparison has been made between the effects of daily insulin injection
and a ketogenic diet on weight loss and tumour weight in an experimental
model of cancer cachexia (MAC16). Weight loss associated with the MAC16
tumour was significantly reduced both by a ketogenic diet (80% MCT) and by
daily insulin injections without an increase in either food or water
consumption. Animals fed the 80% MCT diet had a significantly reduced tumour
weight compared with controls fed a normal laboratory diet, while in animals
administered 20 U insulin kg-1 day-1 the tumour weight was 50% greater than
in saline infused controls. The stimulation of tumour growth by insulin was
counteracted by the inclusion of 3-hydroxybutyrate in the drinking water
without any alteration in the extent of weight loss. Depletion of both carc
ass fat and muscle dry weight in animals bearing the MAC16 tumour was
reversed in animals administered either insulin or an 80% MCT diet. Animals
bearing the MAC16 tumour had a reduced nitrogen balance compared with
non-tumour-bearing controls, mainly due to excess urea excretion, and this
was reversed towards control values in animals fed an 80% MCT diet, but not
in animals administered insulin. These results suggest that a ketogenic diet
is more effective than insulin administration in reversing the cachectic
process and has the advantage of a concomitant reduction in tumour weight.
 PMID: 2736199, UI: 89287233
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