Researchers from the University of Northern California and Columbia University have discovered that excluding the amino acids cysteine and methionine from the diet contributes to the self-destruction of cancer cells, according to New Atlas.
Researchers have focused on studying glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. Animal experiments have shown that a diet low in certain amino acids promotes the self-destruction of tumor cells and enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Specifically, the study highlights cysteine and methionine—sulfur-containing amino acids found in wheat, oatmeal, legumes, meat, fish, and eggs.
The use of this approach in the experimental framework has allowed for a reduction in the doses of toxic chemotherapy drugs, thereby reducing their side effects for patients. This discovery opens the prospect of developing safer and more effective cancer treatments, where the body itself participates in the fight against the disease.
Researchers have already begun clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of this method in people with glioblastoma. However, they caution that the process of assessing effectiveness and implementing such findings may take years.