Research summary
A 2024 review examined the research for practical applications of integrative oncology strategies to support immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment of solid tumors 1Fuller-Shavel, N., & Krell, J. (2024). Integrative Oncology Approaches to Supporting Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment of Solid Tumours. Current oncology reports, 26(2), 164–174.. While tumor-specific factors affect ICI response, patient factors such as inflammation, the gut microbiota, and diet also affect outcomes. The reviewers described integrative interventions that had promising evidence as supportive therapies for people receiving ICI treatment. As ICI expands to become available for more people, it is important for patients and clinicians to understand which low-cost integrative therapies can support treatment outcomes and minimize adverse events.
Action you can take
- Adopt a Mediterranean-style diet with 20 grams of fibre daily from plant sources.
This style of diet will support microbiome diversity, which can impact ICI treatment response. Minimize processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Read about Eating Well and the Mediterranean Diet. - Discuss a probiotic supplement with your doctor.
Specific probiotic strains have shown evidence to support ICI outcomes, but not all probiotics are safe and effective. - Before ICI therapy, assess baseline inflammation.
Ask your doctor for a CRP test, and if your levels are high, discuss strategies to lower baseline inflammation. Read our article about managing Inflammation here. - Vitamin D supplementation.
A target level of 75 nmol/l was observed to improve treatment outcomes. Supplement with the guidance of a doctor, as higher Vitamin D levels have observed risks. - Find a mind-body practice you enjoy.
Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong are all practices that can decrease stress. While there are not specific clinical studies assessing their effectiveness during ICI, they are low risk practices that have the potential for managing chronic stress. - Regular exercise.
A minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly has evidence for improved ICI outcomes. - Minimize Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) and antibiotic use, and avoid cannabis use.
Read the research for therapies in this article
References
Christine has a dynamic background in the life sciences, public health, and program operations. Her career began at the lab bench with a Gates Foundation-funded HIV Vaccine research group, which led her to graduate studies in public health epidemiology at UC Berkeley. Her research experience spans clinical epidemiology research to evaluating the impacts of community nutrition programs in Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and Oakland. Most recently she has worked in executive operations for a seed-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco. Personally, Christine is passionate about holistic health and wellness. She is a clinical herbalist and Reiki master, and she has been practicing yoga for 15+ years. She brings a breadth of experiences to her work leading the CancerChoices program.