Systems Approach to Cancer

Presenter: Dr. Nina Fuller-Shavel

• Qualifications: MA Hons (Cantab), MB BChir, IFMCP, DIPIM, PG Cert, DIPION, RYT200
• Disclaimer: Information provided is not a substitute for medical advice or standard treatment. Legal status of herbs and recommendations not evaluated by Dr. Nina Fuller-Shavel Ltd.

Key Concepts

• Systems Approach:
  • Healthy microbiome and GI function
  • Balanced immune function
  • Effective detoxification
  • Healthy circulation and tissue architecture
  • Mitochondrial and metabolic health
  • Hormone balance
  • Genomic stability
  • Mental, emotional, and spiritual health
  • Regulation of catabolic vs. anabolic pathways

Cancer Metabolism

• Cancer cells need energy and substrates for growth.
• Key Metabolic Changes:
  • Elevated glucose uptake and glycolysis
  • Aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect)
  • Increased glutamine uptake
  • Enhanced lipid and nucleotide biosynthesis
• Strategy: Focus on supporting the whole person at macro level and personalized blockade at micro level (precision oncology).

Aerobic Glycolysis

• Consequences:
  • Rapid ATP generation
  • Production of cell building blocks
  • Adaptation to hypoxia
  • Acidification of tumor microenvironment and immune suppression

Glucose Metabolism and Biosynthesis

• TCA Cycle and Glutamine:
  • Glutamine essential for TCA cycle intermediates and mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Special Diets in Cancer

• Dietary Approaches:
  • Ketogenic diet
  • FMD/IF/TRF (Fasting Mimicking Diet/Intermittent Fasting/Time-Restricted Feeding)
  • Protein and amino acid restrictions (e.g., serine, methionine)
• Current Practical Diets:
  • Anti-inflammatory low GL, high phytonutrient, moderate protein diet
  • Anti-inflammatory Ketogenic Diet (KD)
  • Time-Restricted Feeding (TRF)

Research and References

• Acknowledgment of early-stage research and practical application challenges.
• References:
  • Lin J, et al. (2019). Roles of glucose metabolic reprogramming.
  • Mendelsohn J, et al. (2015). The molecular basis of cancer.
  • Pistollato F, et al. (2015). Plant-derived bioactive compounds.
  • Varghese E, et al. (2020). Targeting glucose metabolism.
  • Wanders D, et al. (2020). Methionine restriction in cancer.