By Neuroscience News –
Researchers have found that a ketogenic diet boosts CAR T cell therapy effectiveness by enhancing tumor control and survival in mice with lymphoma. The key is beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a metabolite produced during ketosis, which CAR T cells prefer as an energy source over glucose. Laboratory models showed that BHB supplementation led to complete cancer remission in most mice and enhanced CAR T cell expansion.
Translational studies in human samples confirmed that higher BHB levels correlate with better CAR T cell performance. This approach is now being tested in a Phase I clinical trial for lymphoma patients. If successful, this low-toxicity, cost-effective strategy could significantly improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes.
