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@article{188465,
        author = {shruti Dhanlal Ratanmanke and Mayuri Tukaram Rathod. and Payal Dnyanoba Rathod. and Komal G .Daydar.},
        title = {The Role of Fasting in Cancer Treatment: Mechanisms, Protocols, Clinical Evidence, and Risks},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {7},
        pages = {2290-2300},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=188465},
        abstract = {Fasting and fasting-mimicking interventions are emerging as promising adjuncts in oncology, offering metabolic strategies to enhance conventional therapies while potentially reducing treatment-related toxicity. Cancer cells, characterized by high nutrient demands and metabolic inflexibility, appear more vulnerable to nutrient deprivation than normal cells, a phenomenon termed differential stress resistance. Various protocols including intermittent fasting, prolonged water fasting, fasting-mimicking diets, time restricted eating, caloric restriction, and ketogenic diets modulate key pathways such as insulin/IGF-1 signaling , mTOR, AMPK, and autophagy. Preclinical studies consistently demonstrate slowed tumor growth, improved immune responses, and heightened sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Early clinical trials suggest reductions in chemotherapy-induced fatigue, gastrointestinal discomfort, and hematological toxicities, with fasting-mimicking diets showing particular feasibility and safety. However, risks such as malnutrition, cachexia, and electrolyte imbalances limit applicability in vulnerable populations. Current evidence supports short-term, structured fasting protocols under medical supervision, while long-term outcomes and survival benefits remain under investigation. Future research must standardize protocols, refine patient selection, and evaluate integration with immunotherapy to determine the clinical utility of fasting-based strategies in personalized cancer care.},
        keywords = {cancer treatment, Insulin, Fasting Type, Clinical Evidence},
        month = {December},
        }