Scientists discover that some “unhealthy” diets can boost cancer immunotherapy in mice

In a surprising discovery, scientists found that certain diets associated with obesity can make cancer immunotherapy more effective in mice, challenging traditional assumptions about diet and cancer treatment. The findings suggest that the secret may lie in how food interacts with gut bacteria to strengthen the immune system’s response to cancer. Scientists discover that some “unhealthy” diets can boost cancer immunotherapy in mice.

In a surprising finding, certain diets typically considered "unhealthy" or "fattening" actually improved responses to a common form of cancer immunotherapy in mice. The discovery suggests that the success of cancer treatment may depend not only on which bacteria live in the gut, but also on the foods that help those bacteria thrive. "There is a synergistic relationship between the bacteria that reside in our GI tract, and the food we eat," said Daniela Quail, Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Principal Investigator at the Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute.

"Even with the right composition of bacteria in your gut, the foods you eat to nourish those populations can determine whether or not you respond to treatment," said Quail. Quail co-led the research, which examined how diet influences the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. These widely used immunotherapy drugs help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.