Dr. Claudio Vernieri, Director of the Metabolic Reprogramming in Solid Tumors program at the Istituto Fondazione di Oncologia Molecolare (IFOM) in Milan, Italy, was the featured speaker in CCE’s July lecture. The event was hosted by the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano (INT), where Dr. Vernieri also serves as a medical oncologist in the Breast Unit. His talk titled “Metabolomics in Cancer” focused on the growing research showing how targeted nutritional interventions, particularly the Fasting-Mimicking Diet (FMD), can significantly influence the metabolic behavior of tumor cells.
Understanding the Cancer Cell Metabolism
Cell metabolism—the set of chemical reactions that convert nutrients into energy and building blocks for cell function—is tightly regulated in healthy tissues. However, in cancer cells, mutations disrupt these controls and permanently activate growth signals. This metabolic reprogramming enables tumor cells to absorb more nutrients and redirect them toward building essential components such as proteins, DNA, and fats, rather than simply producing energy.
As tumors grow, they deplete local supplies of nutrients and oxygen, forcing cancer cells to adapt in ways that further enhance their survival. Importantly, this altered metabolism affects not only the tumor cells but also surrounding healthy tissues and can even influence the entire body. Once considered a side effect of cancer, abnormal metabolism is now recognized as a major contributor to cancer development and progression (Chandel, 2021; Lunt & Vander Heiden, 2011; Pavlova & Thompson, 2016).
Fasting-Mimicking Diet: Clinical Insights
In his lecture, Dr. Vernieri discussed the results of a clinical trial that explored the effects of a fasting-mimicking diet in cancer patients undergoing standard treatment. The FMD protocol involved a five-day cycle of a diet low in calories, protein, and carbohydrates—carefully designed to imitate the physiological effects of fasting while still providing vital nutrients. This cycle was repeated every 21 to 28 days, depending on the patient’s treatment plan. The trial enrolled 101 patients with various cancer types.
The study found that the FMD was both safe and feasible for patients. It significantly reduced blood levels of glucose, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)—all markers associated with cancer-promoting metabolic activity. Notably, the diet also modulated the immune system by decreasing the number of immunosuppressive cells and boosting immune responses linked to more favorable clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that the FMD can effectively alter systemic metabolism and potentially improve the body’s natural ability to fight cancer, supporting its further evaluation in combination with conventional therapies.
Claudio Vernieri: Advancing Cancer Metabolism Research
Dr. Claudio Vernieri, M.D., Ph.D., is both a practicing medical oncologist and an accomplished researcher in the fields of cancer metabolism and breast cancer. At IFOM, he leads efforts to understand how metabolic reprogramming in tumors can be manipulated to enhance treatment outcomes. In his dual role at INT, he remains closely involved in patient care, bridging clinical practice and biomedical research.
His work focuses on evaluating the safety and efficacy of metabolic interventions—such as calorie-restricted diets and the use of metformin—as adjuncts to standard cancer therapies. Dr. Vernieri has been instrumental in designing and conducting independent clinical trials that examine the role of nutritional and metabolic strategies in oncology, with the ultimate goal of making cancer treatments more personalized and effective. Within CCE he is an active member of the Clinical Trials and Translational Cancer Research pillar.
Consulted sources:
- Vernieri C, Ligorio F, Tripathy D, Longo VD. Cyclic fasting-mimicking diet in cancer treatment: Preclinical and clinical evidence. Cell Metab. 2024 Aug 6;36(8):1644-1667. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.06.014. Epub 2024 Jul 25. PMID: 39059383.
- Vernieri C, Fucà G, Ligorio F, Huber V, Vingiani A, Iannelli F, Raimondi A, Rinchai D, Frigè G, Belfiore A, Lalli L, Chiodoni C, Cancila V, Zanardi F, Ajazi A, Cortellino S, Vallacchi V, Squarcina P, Cova A, Pesce S, Frati P, Mall R, Corsetto PA, Rizzo AM, Ferraris C, Folli S, Garassino MC, Capri G, Bianchi G, Colombo MP, Minucci S, Foiani M, Longo VD, Apolone G, Torri V, Pruneri G, Bedognetti D, Rivoltini L, de Braud F. Fasting-Mimicking Diet Is Safe and Reshapes Metabolism and Antitumor Immunity in Patients with Cancer. Cancer Discov. 2022 Jan;12(1):90-107. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0030. Epub 2021 Nov 17. PMID: 34789537; PMCID: PMC9762338.
- Vahid, F., Hajizadeghan, K., & Khodabakhshi, A. (2023). Nutritional Metabolomics in Diet–Breast Cancer Relations: Current Research, Challenges, and Future Directions—A Review. Biomedicines, 11(7), 1845. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11071845
- Romero-Garcia S, Lopez-Gonzalez JS, Báez-Viveros JL, Aguilar-Cazares D, Prado-Garcia H. Tumor cell metabolism: an integral view. Cancer Biol Ther. 2011 Dec 1;12(11):939-48. doi: 10.4161/cbt.12.11.18140. Epub 2011 Dec 1. PMID: 22057267; PMCID: PMC3280912
