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A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago revealed a significant association between nut consumption and improved survival outcomes in colon cancer patients. The research used questionnaire data from 826 patients enrolled in a phase III colorectal cancer clinical trial (CALGB) in 1999, analyzing the relationship between eating nuts and the risk of cancer recurrence and death.
The results showed that colon cancer patients who consumed more than two ounces of nuts per week had meaningfully better outcomes compared to those who did not consume nuts. Importantly, this benefit was found to be independent of known prognostic factors such as age, BMI, gender, and common genetic mutations. A secondary analysis further refined the finding — the survival benefit was specific to tree nuts, which include almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, and cashews, rather than other types such as peanuts.
ASCO Chairman Daniel F. Hayes commented: "Healthy diets during cancer treatment are often easily overlooked. This study shows that things like nuts can also affect the outcome of cancer patients. Hopefully, in the future of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment, when clinicians decide on disease treatment strategies, healthy dietary factors should also be taken into account."
Researcher Professor Temidayo noted that multiple studies have already shown the benefits of nut consumption for patients with heart disease and diabetes, making it a logical area to explore in cancer patients as well. Patients with stage III colorectal cancer have a 3-year survival rate of approximately 70% after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. For these patients and their doctors, the question of what additional steps can reduce recurrence risk beyond standard treatment is critically important — and findings like this suggest that healthy dietary choices, including regular consumption of tree nuts, may play a meaningful supporting role.
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About Dr. Nishant Mittal
Dr. Nishant Mittal is a highly accomplished researcher with over 13 years of experience in the fields of cardiovascular biology and cancer research. Significant contributions to stem cell biology, developmental biology, and innovative research techniques mark his career. Research Highlights Dr. Mittal's research has focused on several key areas: 1) Cardio…
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