Cancer Advisor

Cancer staging tells us where the tumor is.  Insulin resistance tells us what kind of body the tumor is growing in. Modern oncology places enormous faith in staging systems. TNM categories, AJCC groupings, and increasingly granular molecular subtypes are used to estimate prognosis, guide treatment, and reassure patients. Yet clinicians and patients alike encounter a persistent paradox: Two patients. Same cancer. Same stage. Same treatment. Radically different outcomes. Staging explains part of the story — but not nearly enough. A growing body of evidence suggests that host metabolic health, particularly insulin resistance, often predicts outcomes more reliably than tumor stage alone. This is not an argument against staging. It is an argument that staging is incomplete. What Cancer Staging Measures — and What It Ignores Cancer staging excels at describing tumor geography : Tumor size Lymph node involvement Distant spread What it largely ignores: Insulin and glucose dynamics Inflamma...

Introduction: A New Era in Cancer Care Cancer treatment is evolving faster than ever. From cutting-edge immunotherapies to AI-driven diagnostics, the discoveries of 2025–2026 are reshaping how clinicians detect, monitor, and treat malignancies. These breakthroughs offer hope for longer survival, improved quality of life, and personalized therapies tailored to each patient. Credit:  Statista 1. Immunotherapy: Expanding Beyond Checkpoints Immune checkpoint inhibitors (like pembrolizumab and nivolumab) remain foundational, while CAR‑T therapies, bispecific antibodies, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) expand treatment options for previously resistant solid tumors. Key Highlights: CAR‑T therapy demonstrates survival benefits in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers — a first for solid tumors. Bispecific and dual checkpoint agents provide deeper, more durable responses in early trials. Note: These therapies carry potential risks, including cytokine release syn...

The metabolic processes that help your body use food for energy and nourishment are extremely complex. The hormone insulin is a key player. When you eat, sugars from the food enter your bloodstream, which triggers your pancreas to release insulin. That insulin helps the sugar get into your cells to be used for energy. The insulin then ushers any extra sugar to your liver to be stored for later. Insulin also helps your body break down and use lipids, or fats. The amount of insulin in your body goes up and down according to how much sugar is in your bloodstream. But several factors can make your cells resistant to insulin. As a result, your blood sugar and insulin levels will be chronically elevated. Why Obesity and Insulin Resistance Reduce Immunotherapy Effectiveness Short answer: because immunotherapy depends on a metabolically fit immune system — and obesity and insulin resistance reprogram immunity in ways that blunt anti‑tumor response. This article explains how metabolic ...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest human malignancies, with a five-year survival rate stubbornly below 15% despite decades of advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and molecular oncology. Most discussions focus on late diagnosis, aggressive genetics, or therapeutic resistance. Far less attention is paid to a quieter but increasingly evident factor: insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction . Emerging evidence suggests that pancreatic cancer is not merely influenced by metabolic disease—it may be deeply intertwined with it . Insulin resistance often precedes diagnosis, worsens prognosis, and biologically fuels tumor growth. Yet it remains largely absent from staging systems, risk stratification, and treatment frameworks. A 2023 study from researchers at University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine reveals a direct link between high insulin levels, common among patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and pancreatic cancer. The study, published...

Are you overwhelmed by conflicting advice on cancer, diet, and supplements ? You’re not alone. With so many claims out there, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction . Can certain foods lower your cancer risk ? Are some foods increasing it without you realizing? What about vitamin and mineral supplements —do they help prevent cancer, or could they actually increase your risk ? The term " anti-cancer supplements " can be misleading. While some nutrients support the body in cancer prevention or treatment, others may interfere with therapies or even pose risks. There are presently over 1,500 herbs and food supplements in commerce, many of them with claims in use against cancer. This guide compiles over 500 scientific r...