PhD Defence Annemarie Johanna Francisca Westheim

Keywords: Immune fitness, Dietary intervention, Radiotherapy, Immunotherapy 
 

"Feeding the fight: Nutrition’s impact on immune fitness and cancer therapy success"

Although combinations of radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT) have already shown improved survival rates in clinical studies, the proportion of patients who achieve long-term survival remains limited. The aim of this study was to investigate dietary strategies that could enhance the effectiveness of RT/IT combination therapy by supporting the immune system.

This study employed dietary interventions designed to influence the fitness of the immune system. An experimental model for colon cancer was used to generate evidence as a basis for considering nutritional strategies to support RT and IT combination treatment. 

Using this model, the diets were tested for safety and their ability to support immune system fitness in order to enhance the effectiveness of combined RT/IT. Specifically, this thesis shows that omega-3 and high-protein diets appear to be safe and effective when used in combination with irradiation and IT. Additionally, we demonstrate that, beyond the quantity of fiber, the fiber composition in the diet is also relevant for the outcome of combined treatment with RT and IT.  

However, further research is needed before our dietary strategies can be implemented in clinical practice. Validation is essential, the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood, and a translation from experimental research to patients is still required. 

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