Abdalla MMI, Bhatnagar P, Zulkaflee MHB, Mohammed Irfan AMS, Eid N. Intermittent fasting enhances cancer therapy via autophagy-dependent and independent mechanisms: Evidence and implications. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(2): 115289 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.115289]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Nabil Eid, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, IMU University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia. nabilsaleheid@imu.edu.my
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Oncology
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Minireviews
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Feb 24, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 12, 2026
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World Journal of Clinical Oncology
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2218-4333
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Abdalla MMI, Bhatnagar P, Zulkaflee MHB, Mohammed Irfan AMS, Eid N. Intermittent fasting enhances cancer therapy via autophagy-dependent and independent mechanisms: Evidence and implications. World J Clin Oncol 2026; 17(2): 115289 [DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.115289]
World J Clin Oncol. Feb 24, 2026; 17(2): 115289 Published online Feb 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i2.115289
Intermittent fasting enhances cancer therapy via autophagy-dependent and independent mechanisms: Evidence and implications
Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, Payal Bhatnagar, Mohd Hazim Bin Zulkaflee, Abdul Malik Sahib Mohammed Irfan, Nabil Eid
Mona Mohamed Ibrahim Abdalla, Abdul Malik Sahib Mohammed Irfan, Division of Physiology, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
Payal Bhatnagar, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
Mohd Hazim Bin Zulkaflee, Nabil Eid, Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, IMU University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
Author contributions: Abdalla MMI, Bhatnagar P, Zulkaflee MHB, Mohammed Irfan AMS, and Eid N wrote the text; Abdalla MMI and Eid N designed the figures; Eid N revised the final draft and approved the paper submission. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Nabil Eid, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, IMU University, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia. nabilsaleheid@imu.edu.my
Received: October 15, 2025 Revised: October 30, 2025 Accepted: January 6, 2026 Published online: February 24, 2026 Processing time: 116 Days and 4.9 Hours
Abstract
Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) is a lysosomal degradation pathway that clears and recycles cytosolic oncogenic factors, excess lipids, and damaged mitochondria, thereby potentially preventing cancer initiation. Recent studies using in vitro and animal cancer models, as well as clinical investigations in cancer patients, indicate that intermittent fasting exerts beneficial effects, particularly by reducing chemotherapy-related toxicity and slowing tumor growth through multiple mechanisms, including metabolic reprogramming, immune modulation, attenuation of inflammation, and upregulation of autophagy, among others. In this review, we briefly discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying intermittent fasting-mediated cancer prevention and therapy, including the role of autophagy and related clinical implications, highlighting its potential as a valuable adjunct to chemotherapy that warrants further large-scale investigations.
Core Tip: Growing evidence indicates that intermittent fasting (IF) can reduce chemotherapy-related toxicity and slow tumor growth in cancer patients through both autophagy-dependent and independent mechanisms. Therefore, IF may represent a promising strategy for cancer prevention and as an adjuvant to cancer therapy. However, there are limitations associated with IF in cancer therapy.
