A combination of fasting and chemotherapy may improve the response to cancer, with the effect varying by gender.

Melanoma cells are observed using fluorescence microscopy. 1 credit

In recent years, various research groups have found evidence in animal models that controlled fasting can help enhance the effects of chemotherapy in some types of cancer and reduce side effects. This is one area of ​​research within the metabolic syndrome group. IMDEA Food

who has now also examined whether the sex of the animals influences the effect of combining fasting and chemotherapy in treating cancer.

This new work, with the participation of researchers from the National Center for Cancer Research (CNIO) and published in Cancer Communications, Tests were conducted on male and female mice with melanoma, and it was found that the effect of a combination of fasting and chemotherapy on the animals’ immune systems was more pronounced in males than in females.

This finding highlights the importance of considering sex as a critical factor in developing personalized therapeutic strategies to combat cancer.

A study led by Pablo Jose Fernandez-Marcosshows, in particular, that the combination of fasting and chemotherapy increases the presence of natural killer cells and natural killer T cells in melanoma, as well as CD8 lymphocytes in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

On behalf of the CNIO they are co-authors. Lola Martinezfrom the flow cytometry department, and Alejo EfeyanHead of the Metabolism and Cell Signaling Group.

Researchers from the Severo Ochoa Center for Molecular Biology (CBM) and CEU San Pablo University also participated in the study. This study, funded mainly by Spanish government agencies, also receives financial support from the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC).

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