A new Portuguese-Brazilian study suggests that controlling calorie intake can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating sarcomas, a rare type of cancer, while also protecting healthy cells from treatment damage. The research, conducted by the RISE Health Research Unit in collaboration with the Federal University of Piauí in Brazil, was released on World Cancer Day, February 4, a day promoted by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) to raise awareness of cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and access to treatments.

The study found that moderate calorie restriction, alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin, significantly reduced tumour size and weight, increased tumour inhibition rates, and protected normal cells from chemotherapy-induced damage. Researchers reported that a 40 percent reduction in calorie intake induced metabolic stress in the tumour microenvironment, disrupting processes essential for cancer growth.

“From this experimental study, carried out on animal models, we observed that calorie restriction for short periods can be favourable to cancer treatment,” said Moisés Tolentino Bento da Silva of RISE Health, who led the research in Portugal. He explained that higher energy intake fuels cancer progression, so reducing calorie intake limits the energy supply to the tumour and enhances chemotherapy effectiveness.

The study also highlighted additional benefits of calorie restriction. It supports DNA repair in healthy tissues damaged by chemotherapy and reprogrammes lipid metabolism, lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels that feed malignant cells. Researchers noted that these effects may also have broader implications for managing chronic conditions such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Alongside dietary control, the study emphasized the importance of regular physical exercise during cancer treatment. “If cancer patients exercise adequately and regularly during chemotherapy, they will experience fewer side effects in various systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract,” Tolentino Bento da Silva said. “Physical exercise, together with a good diet, has great benefits for the patient’s quality of life, whether it is preventative, during treatment, or after oncological therapy.”

The research, published in the journal Cancers, provides new evidence that lifestyle interventions, including calorie management and physical activity, can complement traditional cancer therapies. While the study was conducted on animal models, the findings open pathways for clinical research and potential integration into patient care protocols.

As cancer treatment continues to evolve, experts suggest that non-pharmacological approaches such as diet and exercise may play an increasingly important role in supporting patients, improving treatment outcomes, and enhancing overall well-being during chemotherapy.

A new study published in Nature Medicine on Tuesday shows that nearly 40 percent of new cancer cases worldwide could be prevented by managing common risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and infections. The research, released ahead of World Cancer Day, analyzed 36 types of cancer across 185 countries using data from 2022 and examined 30 modifiable risk factors that can be controlled or managed to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.

The study found that tobacco use remains the leading contributor to cancer globally, followed by infections and alcohol consumption. Out of the 18.7 million new cancer cases recorded in 2022, about 7.1 million, or 38 percent, were linked to preventable causes. Stomach, lung, and cervical cancers accounted for nearly half of these avoidable cases.

Smoking was responsible for approximately 15 percent of preventable cancers, making it the single largest risk factor worldwide. Infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV), contributed to around 10 percent of cases, while alcohol consumption accounted for three percent.

Regional differences were evident in the data. In low- and middle-income regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, infections were the leading contributor to preventable cancers, with cervical cancer being particularly prevalent. In contrast, in high-income regions such as Europe and North America, smoking was the primary factor driving cancer cases among women. Smoking also remained the top risk factor among men globally, responsible for nearly 25 percent of 4.3 million avoidable cases. Infections were the second leading cause of cancer among men, especially in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Among the 9.2 million new cancer cases in women, roughly 30 percent were considered preventable. Infections such as HPV were linked to over 11 percent of these cases, highlighting the importance of vaccination and early detection programs in vulnerable regions.

The research also considered population-level exposure to each risk factor, showing how the number of cases varied across regions based on lifestyle, healthcare access, and public health interventions. Previous studies often focused on single risk factors or mortality, but this study provides a more comprehensive view of cancer incidence globally and the proportion that could be avoided through preventive measures.

Researchers say the findings could help guide more targeted cancer prevention strategies. By identifying the most significant risk factors in different regions, policymakers and health organizations can design interventions tailored to local needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

“This study underscores the potential for prevention in reducing the global burden of cancer,” the authors said. “Addressing smoking, infections, and alcohol consumption could prevent millions of cases each year and save countless lives.”

As cuts in international aid continue worldwide, a new study projects that 22.6 million people could die by 2030, including 5.4 million children under the age of five.

The research, conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, examines 93 low- and middle-income countries home to 6.3 billion people, or roughly 75 percent of the world’s population. Researchers warn that the decline in official development assistance (ODA) threatens to reverse decades of progress in global health.

Using two decades of data from 2002 to 2021, the team modelled outcomes under different funding scenarios. “We don’t want to accept this as the new normal, we don’t want to accept this situation, this constant reduction,” said Davide Rasella, study coordinator at ISGlobal, in an interview with Euronews Health.

In 2023, total ODA reached a record $250.3 billion (€212.3 billion), with France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States providing around 70 percent of the total. All of these major donors, except Japan, reduced their contributions in 2024 for the first time in three decades, marking the first overall fall in international aid in six years.

The United States dismantled its foreign aid agency, USAID, in 2025, and other countries followed with further cuts. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria saw contributions drop sharply from $15.7 billion in 2022 to $11.34 billion in 2025. Some donors, including the European Union, have not yet confirmed their pledges.

“People are going to die. Unless we restore the level of funding, millions of people are going to die. There’s no doubt of it,” Rasella said. He added that the next challenge is how to allocate the remaining funds most effectively.

The study highlights the critical role ODA has played in global health. Between 2002 and 2021, aid programs helped reduce child mortality by 39 percent, prevent 70 percent of HIV/AIDS deaths, and cut deaths from malaria and nutritional deficiencies by 56 percent.

Researchers modelled two scenarios for 2030. A mild defunding scenario, reflecting a 10.6 percent reduction in aid, could result in 9.4 million preventable deaths, including 2.5 million children under five. A more severe defunding scenario could see more than 22.6 million additional deaths, including 5.4 million children. “At least three out of every four people on the planet live in countries where two decades of development gains could be reversed,” the authors said.

Cuts in aid affect more than health outcomes. They also reduce the number of doctors on the ground and limit the exchange of critical information, including epidemic preparedness and responses to climate-related shocks.

Eric Pelofsky, vice president for global economic recovery at the Rockefeller Foundation, said investing in development not only saves lives but promotes global stability and prosperity. He noted that aid is often framed domestically as a trade-off, but protecting global health and stability ultimately benefits donor countries.