Within immunogenic tumours, only a subset responds to immunotherapy and the reasons for the unpredictable outcomes remain unknown. Immunotherapy works only in the context of the immunogenic disorderly cancers while silent tumours are resistant. In the former case, the degenerate and chaotic process associated with enhanced immunogenicity of cancer cells, while in the latter cancer cells adapted to grow without being recognized by the host immune surveillance.
Anti inflammation diet for dummies pdf driver#
We have recently shown, that human cancers evolve following a strict selection bottleneck according to a degenerate process based on genetic instability and leading to a trial and error enhancement of oncogenic processes or through an orderly stepwise accumulation of relevant driver mutations.
However, only a subset of cancers within each indication responds to this treatment leaving the majority of patients unaffected by this potentially curative modality.
The major benefit is the long-term effectiveness, that can be observed with immunotherapy agents compared to other standard therapies such as chemotherapy or pathway inhibitors. Finally, supplements, as omega-3 and polyphenols, are discussed as potential approaches that could benefit healthy dietary and lifestyle habits in the context of immunotherapy.Ĭheck point inhibitor therapy has brought a paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced cancer by introducing immunotherapy as a recognized first and second line modality. Also, the dietary patterns effecting immune function are discussed including the value of adhering to a healthy diets such as the Mediterranean, Veg, Japanese, or a Microbiota-regulating diet, the very low ketogenic diet, which have been demonstrated to lower the risk of developing several cancers and reduce the mortality associated with them. Particular attention is turned to the gut microbiota and the impact of its composition on the immune system. This represents also the premise for a research project aimed at identifying the best diet for immunotherapy enhancement against tumours (D.I.E.T project). The general mechanisms that link nutritional principles to immune function and may influence the effectiveness of anticancer immunotherapy are examined.
This review proposes that nutrition can affect and potentially enhance the immune response against cancer. Immunotherapy has matured into standard treatment for several cancers, but much remains to be done to extend the reach of its effectiveness particularly to cancers that are resistant within each indication.