A ketogenic diet improves the prognosis in a mouse model of peritoneal dissemination without tumor regression

Peritoneal dissemination describes a state where tumor cells spread to the surface of the peritoneum and become engrafted. Peritoneal dissemination reduces the quality of life and prognosis of cancer patients. Currently, there are few effective therapies or preventative treatments for peritoneal dissemination. The aim of this study was to evaluate a ketogenic diet, characterized by high fat, moderate protein and low carbohydrate content, as a novel therapy in a mouse model of peritoneal dissemination. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with colon 26, a murine colon adenocarcinoma cell line, to induce experimental peritoneal dissemination. After tumor inoculation, mice were fed a regular or ketogenic diet. A longer survival time and better health status score, related to improved behavior, was observed in the ketogenic diet group compared with the regular diet group. In addition, the weight of ascites was significantly smaller and the anemia symptoms, number of red blood cell, hemoglobin and hematocrit, were improved in the ketogenic diet group compared with the regular diet group. However, the tumor weight was not significantly smaller in the ketogenic diet group compared with the regular diet group. These data suggest that a ketogenic diet might be a potential preventive therapy for peritoneal dissemination.