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A comment on Starvation Based Chemotherapy: A Novel Approach for Cancer Treatment [pdf]. Parent comment

Re:Starvation Based Chemotherapy: A Novel Approach for Cance... by bryondowd on Thursday January 08, 2015 @08:26AM (#8856239)
From the abstract posted by Junto, it looks like the idea isn't to starve the cancer cells, it's to starve the healthy cells. The point being that when starving, healthy cells stop growing and become less susceptible to chemo drugs, while the cancer cells ignore the starvation and keep growing, so do not get the same protection.

Imagine a TV scene where the hero starts yelling 'get down' in a crowded area before a gunfight breaks out. The 'bad guys' stay upright and the confused civilians duck, so fewer civilians get shot.

IANABiologist

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Re:Starvation Based Chemotherapy: A Novel Approach for Cance... by ansible on Thursday January 08, 2015 @09:49AM (#8856569)
It is an interesting theory, that does make sense... not that "making sense" means that the theory is true!

It may be worthwhile to conduct more studies in this direction. I'd be interested to know how soon after the patient stops eating will be the maximum difference in response between normal and cancer cells. And if this is more effective for short chemo treatments, or for the longer ones.

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