According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, cancer is one of
the leading causes of death, particularly in developing countries. The malignant
proliferation and survival of cancer cells rely on the biosyntheses of proteins,
nucleotides, and fatty acids. Accumulating pieces of evidence demonstrate that amino
acid restrictions are valuable for cancer interventions. Meanwhile, folk remedies using
dietary strategies are abused and lack solid rationale. To clarify what, why, and how the
potential strategy is, here, we update and recommend a dietary strategy for cancer
therapy: the intermittent dietary lysine restriction with the normal maize (lysine
deficiency) as an intermittent staple food for days, weeks, or even months, will be a
feasible strategy for cancer intervention. In addition, dietary and immunomodulatory
supplements, such as low protein starchy foods, vegetables, fruit, and mushrooms, may
serve as supplements to satisfy the daily needs of micronutrients and the plethora of
dishes.
Keywords: Amino acid restriction, Arginine, Cachexia, Cancer, Glutamine, Kwashiorkor, Lysine, Tryptophan.
