15/06/2026
One of the most interesting nutrition studies presented at ASCO 2026 explored whether short-term fasting around chemotherapy could improve treatment outcomes in women with advanced ovarian cancer.
The study included 36 women with stage III or IV high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
Participants were randomly assigned to either:
๐ Fast for 36 hours before and 24 hours after chemotherapy, or
๐ Continue eating normally throughout treatment.
The results were certainly thought-provoking.
Compared with the control group, the fasting group demonstrated:
โ๏ธ Lower insulin levels
โ๏ธ Better tumour response to chemotherapy
โ๏ธ Longer progression-free survival
โ๏ธ Biological changes suggesting a more favourable anti-cancer environment
Importantly, all participants in the fasting group completed treatment, and side effects were similar between groups.
So does this mean everyone receiving chemotherapy should start fasting?
Not yet.
This was a small pilot study involving just 36 participants at a single centre. While the findings are encouraging, larger studies are needed before fasting can be routinely recommended as part of cancer care.
As a cancer dietitian, I think this study highlights something important:
Nutrition is more than calories.
Food influences metabolism, insulin, inflammation, the immune system, body composition, and potentially how cancer treatments work.
For many years, the focus during treatment has understandably been on preventing weight loss and malnutrition. That remains critically important.
However, emerging research is helping us better understand whether specific nutrition strategies may improve outcomes for selected patients at particular stages of treatment.
The challenge is that there is unlikely to be a "one-size-fits-all" approach.
A nutrition strategy that may be appropriate for a well-nourished individual with ovarian cancer may be completely inappropriate for someone who is already malnourished, frail, losing weight, or struggling to maintain adequate intake.
For now, the fundamentals still matter:
โ๏ธ Adequate protein
โ๏ธ Maintaining muscle mass
โ๏ธ Managing treatment side effects
โ๏ธ Individualised nutrition support when needed
These remain among the most important nutrition priorities during cancer treatment, while this emerging area of research continues to evolve.
The future of oncology nutrition is unlikely to be about one diet, one supplement, or one fasting protocol.
It will be about identifying the right strategy for the right patient at the right time.
Consciously honouring simple foundations as anchors for complex systems.
This is an exciting area of research, and one I'll be watching closely.
[๐ Article reference: ASCO 2026: Fasting before and after chemo may help improve treatment response for some people with ovarian cancer]
