Ketone supplementation decreases tumor cell viability and prolongs survival of mice with metastatic cancer.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Preclinical animal and in vitro laboratory study
PubMed 24615175 · doi:10.1002/ijc.28809
What was done
In vitro, highly metastatic VM-M3 cells were cultured with or without beta-hydroxybutyrate to assess proliferation and viability. In vivo, adult male inbred VM mice were implanted subcutaneously with luciferase-tagged syngeneic VM-M3 cells and fed standard diets supplemented with either 1,3-butanediol or a ketone ester. Outcomes measured included bioluminescent tumor growth, survival time, blood glucose, blood beta-hydroxybutyrate, and body weight.
What was found
Ketone supplementation reduced VM-M3 cell proliferation and viability in vitro even with high glucose present. In vivo, dietary supplementation with 1,3-butanediol and ketone ester prolonged survival in mice with systemic metastatic cancer by 51% and 69%, respectively (p < 0.05), independent of calorie restriction or glucose levels.
Why it matters
The study shows that raising circulating ketone bodies via dietary precursors can directly inhibit tumor cell viability and significantly extend survival in an aggressive metastatic mouse model without requiring caloric restriction.
Limits
Findings are restricted to cell culture and an inbred mouse model; efficacy and safety in human metastatic cancers are unknown. The abstract does not report the total number of mice (n) used, baseline survival times, or specific tumor growth rates.
Cited by
- supports Adding D- and L-enantiomers of ketones to cancer cell cultures at constant glucose levels increases cancer cell death and suppresses proliferation.