Cancer, Endocrine

Triple Therapy with Metformin, Ketogenic Diet, and Metronomic Cyclophosphamide Reduced Tumor Growth in MYCN-Amplified Neuroblastoma Xenografts

In a recent article in Metabolites, scientists are investigating new ways to tackle neuroblastoma, a serious type of childhood cancer connected to changes in the MYCN gene.

The study investigated the effectiveness of a therapy approach combining a ketogenic diet, metformin, and a low dose of the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide. This combined treatment targeted the energy production processes of the cancer cells, aiming to stall their growth.

Remarkably, the results showed that the addition of metformin not only curbed the proliferation of cancer cells in the laboratory but also considerably hindered tumor growth and enhanced survival rates in live model experiments.

Moreover, the treatment significantly influenced genes responsible for the breakdown of fatty acids, a vital component of energy production within cells, which was evidenced by a rise in a particular fatty acid-transporting protein in the cells.

This data suggests that the synergy of metformin and a ketogenic diet could potentially enhance the anti-tumor effects of cyclophosphamide, offering a promising pathway towards more effective treatments for neuroblastoma in the future.