Lima RSP, Sousa JDS, Neres MSO, de Sousa DJM, Martins JA, Pereira IC, da Silva ACA, Severo JS, Torres-Leal FL, da Silva MTB. Colorectal cancer therapy and nutrition: From ultra-processed consumption to metabolic reprogramming. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(4): 115511 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.115511]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Moisés Tolentino Bento da Silva, PhD, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Physiology, Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines/RISE-Health: Health Research Network, Department of Immuno-Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Porto, Jorge Viterbo Ferreira Street 228, Porto 4050-313, Portugal. mtsilva@icbas.up.pt
Research Domain of This Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Apr 15, 2026 (publication date) through Apr 11, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
ISSN
1948-5204
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Lima RSP, Sousa JDS, Neres MSO, de Sousa DJM, Martins JA, Pereira IC, da Silva ACA, Severo JS, Torres-Leal FL, da Silva MTB. Colorectal cancer therapy and nutrition: From ultra-processed consumption to metabolic reprogramming. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2026; 18(4): 115511 [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.115511]
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Apr 15, 2026; 18(4): 115511 Published online Apr 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v18.i4.115511
Colorectal cancer therapy and nutrition: From ultra-processed consumption to metabolic reprogramming
Rodrigo Soares Pereira Lima, Jheniffer da Silva Sousa, Maria Shelda de Oliveira Neres, Dallyla Jennifer Morais de Sousa, Jorddam Almondes Martins, Irislene Costa Pereira, Alda Cássia Alves da Silva, Juliana Soares Severo, Francisco Leonardo Torres-Leal, Moisés Tolentino Bento da Silva
Rodrigo Soares Pereira Lima, Jheniffer da Silva Sousa, Maria Shelda de Oliveira Neres, Dallyla Jennifer Morais de Sousa, Jorddam Almondes Martins, Irislene Costa Pereira, Department of Biophysics and Physiology and PPGAN, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Alda Cássia Alves da Silva, Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Juliana Soares Severo, Francisco Leonardo Torres-Leal, Metabolic Diseases, Exercise and Nutrition Research Group, Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases Glauto Tuquarre, Department of Biophysics and Physiology, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Moisés Tolentino Bento da Silva, Laboratory of Physiology, Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines/RISE-Health: Health Research Network, Department of Immuno-Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Porto, Porto 4050-313, Portugal
Co-first authors: Rodrigo Soares Pereira Lima and Jheniffer da Silva Sousa.
Co-corresponding authors: Francisco Leonardo Torres-Leal and Moisés Tolentino Bento da Silva.
Author contributions: Lima RSP and Sousa JDS contributed equally as co-first authors; Torres-Leal FL and da Silva MTB contributed equally as co-corresponding authors; all authors performed the methodology and wrote, reviewed, and edited the manuscript; all authors approved the final version to publish.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Moisés Tolentino Bento da Silva, PhD, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Physiology, Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines/RISE-Health: Health Research Network, Department of Immuno-Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Porto, Jorge Viterbo Ferreira Street 228, Porto 4050-313, Portugal. mtsilva@icbas.up.pt
Received: October 20, 2025 Revised: December 9, 2025 Accepted: January 16, 2026 Published online: April 15, 2026 Processing time: 172 Days and 10.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Dietary modulation may represent a relevant preventive and supportive strategy in colorectal cancer. Dietary patterns characterized by higher intake of fiber and bioactive compounds, such as those derived from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and lower consumption of ultra-processed foods have been associated with improved intestinal and metabolic homeostasis. In selected patients and under professional supervision, metabolically targeted interventions such as time-restricted eating, caloric restriction, or fasting-mimicking diets may be considered as adjunctive approaches, based on their mechanistic links to tumor metabolism, inflammation, and host metabolic reprogramming. These strategies should be individualized, carefully monitored, and applied as complements to standard oncologic care.
