The Role of Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of Neuroblastoma

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) was initially used in 1920 for drug-resistant epileptic patients. From this point onward, ketogenic diets became a pivotal part of nutritional therapy research. To date, KD has shown therapeutic potential in many pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, brain cancers, and multiple sclerosis. Although KD is now an adjuvant therapy for certain diseases, its effectiveness as an antitumor nutritional therapy is still an ongoing debate, especially in Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in children and is metastatic at initial presentation in more than half of the cases. Although Neuroblastoma can be managed by surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, its 5-year survival rate in children remains below 40%. Earlier studies have proposed the ketogenic diet as a possible adjuvant therapy for patients undergoing treatment for Neuroblastoma. In this study, we seek to review the possible roles of KD in the treatment of Neuroblastoma.

A Comprehensive Review of Emerging Trends and Innovative Therapies in Epilepsy Management

“…This metabolic shift leads to the production of ketone bodies in the liver, which can provide an alternative energy source for the brain [ 171 ]. The therapeutic use of the ketogenic diet for epilepsy management dates back to the early 1920s when it was first introduced as a potential treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy [ 9 , 172 , 173 ]. The diet was initially implemented as a means to mimic the beneficial effects of fasting, which was known to reduce seizure frequency in some individuals.…”

“…The diet was initially implemented as a means to mimic the beneficial effects of fasting, which was known to reduce seizure frequency in some individuals. Over time, researchers and clinicians refined the diet’s composition and established specific ratios of fat, carbohydrates, and protein to optimize its effectiveness while maintaining nutritional balance [ 172 , 174 ].…”

“…Current research has continued to explore the efficacy of the ketogenic diet as a valuable and non-pharmacological treatment option for epilepsy [ 172 ]. Numerous clinical studies and trials have investigated the diet’s impact on seizure control in both pediatric and adult populations with various forms of drug-resistant epilepsy [ 175 , 176 ].…”