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Ketogenic Diet and β-Hydroxybutyrate Suppress Bladder Cancer Growth and Enhance Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy Efficacy

delete2026-06-11
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OA
AI
Y
Yuan Zeng
G
Gangli Gu
L
Lin Yang
B
Bohao Fan
H
Haochen Cui
L
Lei Yan
Z
Zhao Liu *
DOI:10.1111/cas.70447delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
The limited clinical efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains a major challenge in the treatment of bladder cancer (BCa). Here, we report that a ketogenic diet (KD) and its principal circulating metabolite, β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), suppress bladder tumor growth and enhance responses to PD-L1 inhibitor. In a syngeneic MB49 model, KD reduced tumor growth compared with normal diet (ND). KD increased plasma β-HB and was associated with higher intratumoral PD-L1 expression. Exogenous β-HB supplementation under ND recapitulated the antitumor effect of KD, further enhancing anti-PD-L1 efficacy. Mechanistically, β-HB increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential in bladder cancer cells, leading to ATP depletion and enhanced apoptosis. Besides, β-HB also upregulated PD-L1 in vitro and in vivo through GPR109A-JAK2-STAT3 signaling axis. Immune profiling of treated tumors showed increased infiltration and effector function of CD8+ T cells and NK cells and decreased immunosuppressive populations, changes that were further amplified when combined with anti-PD-L1. Together, our results indicate that KD and β-HB exert both tumor intrinsic and immune modulatory effects that sensitize bladder tumors to PD-L1 inhibitor, supporting further evaluation of ketogenic interventions as adjuvants to immunotherapy in BCa.
Keywords:
β-hydroxybutyrate
bladder cancer
immunotherapy
ketogenic diet
PD-L1

Journal

Cancer Science cover
Cancer Science
IF:
4.3
Papers:
414
Citations:
2.0W

Organization

X
xiongan xuanwu hospital
Scholars:
12
Papers: 9
Citations: 0
S
shandong university
Scholars:
9.1W
Papers: 6.3W
Citations: 94
Cited Papers

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