Artificial Sweetener May Impair Cancer Immunotherapy, Raising Broader Questions

The artificial sweetener sucralose may impair the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, according to a recent study published in Science. Although further research is needed before these findings can be translated into actionable information for patients, the investigation highlights that “the science of nutrition in cancer is actually quite poor,” says senior author Diwakar Davar, MD, associate professor and clinical director of the melanoma and skin cancer program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Hillman Cancer Center in Pennsylvania. Dr. Daver shared why he and his colleagues chose to explore the potential effects of sucralose on cancer treatment, and what research is next, with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair. “What I think we are hoping to try to do is actually just kickstart a movement to get people to focus on nutrition,” Dr. Daver explained. “We spend $1 billion to try to get a hazard ratio of 0.8, and here it appears that if you eat just a little less of this, you can maybe double your likelihoods of success.”

Dr. Davar reported various financial relationships.

Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.