Diet Change Supercharges Prostate Cancer Treatment
As we celebrate Labor Day, we honor the dedication and hard work of all who have built our communities and shaped our nation’s progress.
There’s a lot to love about testosterone.
It supports libido, increases muscle mass, pumps up your energy, increases your bone density, boosts your mood—and more.
The only problem? Cancer cells love testosterone, too.
That’s why of the most common treatments for prostate cancer—anti-androgen therapy—works by lowering hormone levels so cancer cells can’t use them as fuel.
This approach slows cancer growth and helps men with prostate cancer live longer.
Now, researchers have identified a way to make this treatment even more effective:
New research reveals that intermittent fasting can supercharge anti-androgen therapy.
In a prostate cancer mouse model, alternate-day fasting:
- Reduced androgen receptor expression and signaling.
- Enhanced the anti-tumor activity of an androgen receptor inhibitor.
- Made the prostate tumors more sensitive to the drug therapy.
The next step is to test the effectiveness of intermittent fasting in men receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer.
Other studies already link calorie restriction to reduced incidence of cancer and delay cancer progression, so I’m optimistic about these results.
In the meantime, if you’re undergoing androgen therapy, talk to your doctor about implementing intermittent fasting into your treatment plan.
After all, cutting back on how often we’re eating is something we can ALL benefit from.
P.S. Newly diagnosed with prostate cancer? Weigh your options carefully. New research reveals overtreatment is common.
View Sources
Ricardo A. Cordova, et al., Caloric Restriction Enhances the Efficacy of Anti-Androgen Therapy in Prostate Cancer by Inhibiting Androgen Receptor Translation, Cancer Res (2025), doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-1986
