What benefits could caloric restriction bring to cancer patients?

Caloric restriction (CR) – reducing food intake by approximately 30% – is thought to lessen age-related changes, decrease oxidative stress and extend lifespan in mammals [1]. Since the seminal findings of McCay and colleagues, there has been a growing interest in applying CR as an adjunct in a variety of conditions, including longevity, cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammatory conditions and more recently, cancer [2,3]. As global rates of obesity have continued to soar, there is increasing evidence suggesting a link between dysregulated metabolic pathways and carcinogenesis. In a recent landmark study, a direct linear effect of weight on cancer development was observed in several common malignancies [4]. Furthermore, there is compelling evidence that not only is obesity implicated in cancer development, but it may also be a key driver of cancer progression and recurrence.