Calorie restriction during treatment for breast cancer changes cellular programming in a way that lowers the chance of metastases in mice. Breast cancer patients are often treated with hormonal therapy to block tumor growth, and steroids to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy. However, both treatments can cause a patient to have altered metabolism which can lead to weight gain. In fact, women gain an average of 10 pounds in their first year of treatment. Recent studies have shown that too much weight makes standard treatments for breast cancer less effective, and those who gain weight during treatment have worse cancer outcomes.
Women 18 years of age or older who have been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and will undergo radiation therapy for treatment may be eligible to participate in the CaReFOR (Calorie Restriction for Oncology Research) trial. If you are interested in learning more about participating in this study, please contact Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals team at carefortrial@gmail.com and/or Edyta Zielinska, edyta.zielinska@jefferson.edu, 215-955-5291.
Sources and Related Studies
- Fighting cancer with dietary changes,
ScienceDaily, 2014/05/140526101503, May 26, 2014. - The metastatic potential of triple-negative breast cancer is decreased via caloric restriction-mediated reduction of the miR-17~92 cluster,
Springer, article/10.1007%2Fs10549-014-2978-7, May 2014. - Counting Calories to Curb Breast Cancer,
Jefferson, blog, March 11th, 2014. - Caloric restriction augments radiation efficacy in breast cancer, Jefferson, Cell Cycle 12:12, 1955–1963, June 15, 2013.
- Jefferson Opens Calorie Restriction Trial for Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients on Radiation Therapy,
KimmelCancerCenter, p=3686, February 12th, 2013.