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Effect of intermittent fasting on prostate cancer tumor growth in a mouse model

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 13, pages 350–355 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. However, CR may be difficult to apply in humans secondary to compliance and potentially deleterious effects. An alternative is intermittent CR, or in the extreme case intermittent fasting (IF). In a previous small pilot study, we found 2 days per week of IF with ad libitum feeding on the other days resulted in trends toward prolonged survival of mice bearing prostate cancer xenografts. We sought to confirm these findings in a larger study. A total of 100 (7- to 8-week-old) male severe combined immunodeficiency mice were injected subcutaneously with 1 × 105 LAPC-4 prostate cancer cells. Mice were randomized to either ad libitum Western Diet (44% carbohydrates, 40% fat and 16% protein) or ad libitum Western Diet with twice-weekly 24 h fasts (IF). Tumor volumes and mouse bodyweights were measured twice weekly. Mice were killed when tumor volumes reached 1000 mm3. Serum and tumor were collected for analysis of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) hormonal axis. Overall, there was no difference in mouse survival (P=0.37) or tumor volumes (P⩾0.10) between groups. Mouse body weights were similar between arms (P=0.84). IF mice had significantly higher serum IGF-1 levels and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratios at killing (P<0.001). However, no difference was observed in serum insulin, IGFBP-3 or tumor phospho-Akt levels (P⩾0.39). IF did not improve mouse survival nor did it delay prostate tumor growth. This may be secondary to metabolic adaptations to the 24 h fasting periods. Future studies are required to optimize CR for application in humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke Prostate Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    J A Thomas II, J A Antonelli, J C Lloyd, E M Masko, S H Poulton, T E Phillips & S J Freedland

  2. Department of Oncology, Lady Davis Research Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    M Pollak

  3. Section of Surgery, Durham Veterans Administration Hospital, Durham, NC, USA

    S J Freedland

  4. Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    S J Freedland

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  1. J A Thomas II
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Correspondence to S J Freedland.

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Thomas, J., Antonelli, J., Lloyd, J. et al. Effect of intermittent fasting on prostate cancer tumor growth in a mouse model. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 13, 350–355 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2010.24

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Keywords

  • caloric restriction
  • diet
  • IGF-1
  • fasting

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