Cancer cell metabolism is based on growth and proliferation.
It uses glucose as primer nutrient source. Calorie restriction
that does not cause to malnutrition has shown to
extend the life of several organisms. In humans, calorie restriction
is related to the decreased incidence of diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Aim of cancer therapy
is killing cancer cells without effecting the normal cell. It
is shown that short term starvation can protect normal cell
from the harmful effects of chemotherapeutics. Cancer cell
can survive and proliferate in starvation because of mutations
in genes related to proliferation. We have no powerful
data about high calorie intake and proliferation of
cancer cells. It is shown that calorie restriction can cause
long survival in mice with cancer. Not calorie restriction
but short term starvation can be a good strategy in cancer
patients.
Keywords: Cancer; chemotherapy; fasting
