Metabolic Therapy + Repurposed Drugs: Synergy or Hype?
Introduction: The Concept of Synergy in Cancer Treatment Metabolic therapy targets cancer cell energy pathways—glucose, insulin, and ketones—while repurposed drugs such as mebendazole and ivermectin interfere with tumor growth and survival signaling. The key question remains: Is combining these approaches truly synergistic—or largely hype driven by early-stage evidence? Understanding the Mechanisms Metabolic Therapy Metabolic therapy works by targeting the energy supply of cancer cells: Ketogenic diet (KD): Lowers glucose and insulin while increasing ketone bodies, creating metabolic stress for tumors Fasting or low-glycemic diets: Reduce insulin spikes and limit fuel availability Lifestyle interventions: Exercise, sleep, and stress reduction improve metabolic regulation Repurposed Drugs Several non-cancer drugs have demonstrated anticancer potential: Mebendazole Mechanism: Microtubule inhibition and anti-angiogenic effects Evidence: Preclinical glioma studies show enhanced effects...