Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is investigating the connection between diet and cancer, addressing patient concerns about dietary choices during cancer treatment. Researchers aim to understand how dietary habits can influence health through clinical trials, equating the study of nutrition with the scientific rigor applied to new cancer therapies.
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A pivotal finding relates to fat cells and obesity. Dr. Neil Iyengar, a breast cancer oncologist at MSK, notes that at least 13 cancers, including breast, prostate, and colorectal, are linked to obesity. He emphasizes that even individuals with a healthy weight can have high levels of body fat, which can cause inflammation and increase cancer risk. Altered hormone levels from dysfunctional fat tissue can damage DNA, leading to various cancers, including certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma.
Dr. Urvi Shah, specializing in multiple myeloma, explains that patients often develop precursor conditions, such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). She highlights that those who are overweight or obese have double the risk of these conditions progressing to full-blown myeloma. Dr. Shah designed the Nutrivention clinical trial to evaluate if a high-fiber, plant-based diet could help patients manage weight and prevent disease progression.
The trial provided participants with high-fiber foods delivered to their homes and included coaching. Initial results, published in December 2025, indicated significant weight loss, improvement in metabolic markers, and stabilization of disease in some participants. Dr. Shah states that this is the first study suggesting a plant-based intervention can positively affect biomarkers in patients at risk of multiple myeloma.
MSK researchers are also addressing dietary habits in breast cancer patients, who often experience weight gain after a diagnosis. According to Dr. Sherry Shen, this weight gain can affect mental health and increase the risk of cancer recurrence. Recent studies have employed mobile app interventions to help patients maintain healthy weights during treatment, yielding promising results in weight loss and overall health improvement.
Patients like William Walters, who participated in the Nutrivention trial, report transformative experiences, stating that adopting a plant-based diet not only aided in weight loss but also improved overall well-being. Walters emphasizes the impact of MSK's research on his life, expressing confidence in the dietary changes he has made.
Research on the interplay between diet and cancer at MSK is supported by contributions from the community, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, reflecting a commitment to innovating cancer care.