Camptothecin effectively treats obesity in mice through GDF15 induction

Targeting the GDF15 Signalling for Obesity Treatment: Recent Advances and Emerging Challenges

The growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15)-glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of metabolism, appetite and body weight control. Obesity is an increasingly prevalent chronic disease worldwide, necessitating effective treatment strategies. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted that targeting the GDF15-GFRAL signalling pathway is a promising approach for treating obesity, particularly because it has minimal impact on skeletal muscle mass, which is essential to preserve during weight loss. Given its distinctive mechanisms, the GDF15-GFRAL axis represents an attractive target for addressing various metabolic disorders, especially obesity. In this review, we will explore how the GDF15-GFRAL axis is regulated, its distribution in the body and its role in the regulation of metabolism, appetite and obesity. Additionally, we will discuss recent advances and potential challenges in targeting the GDF15-GFRAL axis for obesity treatment.

Impact of spinach thylakoid extract-induced 12-week high-intensity functional training on specific adipokines in obese males

BACKGROUND

Obesity presents multifarious etiopathologies with its management being a global challenge. This article presents the first ever report on the impact of spinach thylakoid extract-induced high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on obesity management via regulating the levels of novel adipokine, C1q/TNF-related Protein-12 (CTRP-12), furin, and Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF-15).

METHODS

Sixty-eight obese male subjects were randomly divided into four groups: control group (CG), supplement group (SG), training group (TG), and the combined training and supplement group (TSG). After initial assessments of all groups, the training group commenced a twelve-week HIFT using the CrossFit program (comprising of three training sessions per week, each lasting 30 min). Eligible candidates were randomly assigned to either receive thylakoid-rich spinach extract (5 g per day) or a matching placebo (5 g per day of corn starch, 30 min before lunch) for a total duration of 12 weeks. All required data and investigations were collected at 48 h pre- and post-training.

RESULTS

The results indicated a substantial correlation between exercise and the time of KLF-15, furin, and CTRP-12 demonstrating effect sizes of 0.3, 0.7, and 0.6, respectively. Additionally, the training and supplementation group (TSG) exhibited a substantial decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) levels (p < 0.0001). Concurrently, there was a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, a notable difference between the groups emerged in HDL, LDL, TC, and TG levels, supported by effect sizes of 0.73, 0.86, 0.96, and 0.89, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study offered novel insights into the management of obesity using supplements induced by spinach-derived thylakoid extract during a 12-week HIFT program. The proposed combination intervention may reverse obesity-induced insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunctions by positive regulation of CTRP-12/adipolin and KLF15 and simultaneous suppression of furin levels.

Molecularly imprinted beads based on modified cellulose hydrogel:A novel solid phase extraction filler for specific adsorption of camptothecin

Traditional solid phase extraction (SPE) suffers from a lack of specific adsorption. To overcome this problem, a combination of adsorption method and molecular imprinting technology by polydopamine modification was proposed to realize specific recognition of target compounds in SPE, which is of great significance to improve the separation efficiency of SPE. Cellulose hydrogel beads were prepared by dual cross-linking curing method and modified with polydopamine to make them hydrophilic and biocompatible. Subsequently, cellulose hydrogel-based molecularly imprinted beads (MIBs) were synthesized by surface molecular imprinting technology and used as novel column fillers in SPE to achieve efficient adsorption (34.16 mg·g-1) with specific selectivity towards camptothecin (CPT) in 120 min. The simulation and NMR analysis revealed that recognition mechanism of MIBs involved hydrogen bond interactions and Van der Waals effect. The MIBs were successful used in separating CPT from Camptotheca acuminata fruits, exhibiting impressive adsorption capacity (1.19 mg·g-1) and efficient recovery of CPT (81.54 %). Thus, an environmentally friendly column filler for SPE was developed, offering a promising avenue for utilizing cellulose-based materials in the selective separation of natural products.

Obesity and the kidney: mechanistic links and therapeutic advances

Obesity is strongly associated with the development of diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but there is evidence for a bidirectional relationship wherein the kidney also acts as a key regulator of body weight. In this Review, we highlight the mechanisms implicated in obesity-related CKD, and outline how the kidney might modulate feeding and body weight through a growth differentiation factor 15-dependent kidney-brain axis. The favourable effects of bariatric surgery on kidney function are discussed, and medical therapies designed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus that lower body weight and preserve kidney function independent of glycaemic lowering, including sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, incretin-based therapies and metformin, are also reviewed. In summary, we propose that kidney function and body weight are related in a bidirectional fashion, and that this interrelationship affects human health and disease.

Gefitinib metabolism-related lncRNAs for the prediction of prognosis, tumor microenvironment and drug sensitivity in lung adenocarcinoma

The complete compound of gefitinib is effective in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. However, the effect on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) during its catabolism has not yet been elucidated. We carried out this study to examine the predictive value of gefitinib metabolism-related long noncoding RNAs (GMLncs) in LUAD patients. To filter GMLncs and create a prognostic model, we employed Pearson correlation, Lasso, univariate Cox, and multivariate Cox analysis. We combined risk scores and clinical features to create nomograms for better application in clinical settings. According to the constructed prognostic model, we performed GO/KEGG and GSEA enrichment analysis, tumor immune microenvironment analysis, immune evasion and immunotherapy analysis, somatic cell mutation analysis, drug sensitivity analysis, IMvigor210 immunotherapy validation, stem cell index analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. We built a predictive model with 9 GMLncs, which showed good predictive performance in validation and training sets. The calibration curve demonstrated excellent agreement between the expected and observed survival rates, for which the predictive performance was better than that of the nomogram without a risk score. The metabolism of gefitinib is related to the cytochrome P450 pathway and lipid metabolism pathway, and may be one of the causes of gefitinib resistance, according to analyses from the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Immunological evasion and immunotherapy analysis revealed that the likelihood of immune evasion increased with risk score. Tumor microenvironment analysis found most immune cells at higher concentrations in the low-risk group. Drug sensitivity analysis found 23 sensitive drugs. Twenty-one of these drugs exhibited heightened sensitivity in the high-risk group. RT-qPCR analysis validated the characteristics of 9 GMlncs. The predictive model and nomogram that we constructed have good application value in evaluating the prognosis of patients and guiding clinical treatment.

Enhanced bone regeneration via endochondral ossification using Exendin-4-modified mesenchymal stem cells

Nonunions and delayed unions pose significant challenges in orthopedic treatment, with current therapies often proving inadequate. Bone tissue engineering (BTE), particularly through endochondral ossification (ECO), emerges as a promising strategy for addressing critical bone defects. This study introduces mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing Exendin-4 (MSC-E4), designed to modulate bone remodeling via their autocrine and paracrine functions. We established a type I collagen (Col-I) sponge-based in vitro model that effectively recapitulates the ECO pathway. MSC-E4 demonstrated superior chondrogenic and hypertrophic differentiation and enhanced the ECO cell fate in single-cell sequencing analysis. Furthermore, MSC-E4 encapsulated in microscaffold, effectively facilitated bone regeneration in a rat calvarial defect model, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent for bone regeneration. Our findings advocate for MSC-E4 within a BTE framework as a novel and potent approach for treating significant bone defects, leveraging the intrinsic ECO process.

Artesunate treats obesity in male mice and non-human primates through GDF15/GFRAL signalling axis

Obesity, a global health challenge, is a major risk factor for multiple life-threatening diseases, including diabetes, fatty liver, and cancer. There is an ongoing need to identify safe and tolerable therapeutics for obesity management. Herein, we show that treatment with artesunate, an artemisinin derivative approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe malaria, effectively reduces body weight and improves metabolic profiles in preclinical models of obesity, including male mice with overnutrition-induced obesity and male cynomolgus macaques with spontaneous obesity, without inducing nausea and malaise. Artesunate promotes weight loss and reduces food intake in obese mice and cynomolgus macaques by increasing circulating levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), an appetite-regulating hormone with a brainstem-restricted receptor, the GDNF family receptor α-like (GFRAL). Mechanistically, artesunate induces the expression of GDF15 in multiple organs, especially the liver, in mice through a C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)-directed integrated stress response. Inhibition of GDF15/GFRAL signalling by genetic ablation of GFRAL or tissue-specific knockdown of GDF15 abrogates the anti-obesity effect of artesunate in mice with diet-induced obesity, suggesting that artesunate controls bodyweight and appetite in a GDF15/GFRAL signalling-dependent manner. These data highlight the therapeutic benefits of artesunate in the treatment of obesity and related comorbidities.

Natural compounds as obesity pharmacotherapies

Obesity has become a serious global public health problem, affecting over 988 million people worldwide. Nevertheless, current pharmacotherapies have proven inadequate. Natural compounds have garnered significant attention due to their potential antiobesity effects. Over the past three decades, ca. 50 natural compounds have been evaluated for the preventive and/or therapeutic effects on obesity in animals and humans. However, variations in the antiobesity efficacies among these natural compounds have been substantial, owing to differences in experimental designs, including variations in animal models, dosages, treatment durations, and administration methods. The feasibility of employing these natural compounds as pharmacotherapies for obesity remained uncertain. In this review, we systematically summarized the antiobesity efficacy and mechanisms of action of each natural compound in animal models. This comprehensive review furnishes valuable insights for the development of antiobesity medications based on natural compounds.

Sophoridine Counteracts Obesity via Src-Mediated Inhibition of VEGFR Expression and PI3K/AKT Phosphorylation

Sophoridine (SRP) is a natural quinolizidine alkaloid found in many traditional Chinese herbs, though its effect on adipose tissue is unclear. We improved serum lipid levels by administering SRP by gavage in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice. After 11 weeks, SRP supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain and improved glucose homeostasis, while reducing subcutaneous fat and liver weight. SRP also inhibited cell proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Proteomics analysis revealed that SRP inhibits adipocyte differentiation by interacting with Src, thereby suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation. This study provides an empirical basis for the treatment of obesity with small molecules.

Comprehensive Role of GDF15 in Inhibiting Adipogenesis and Hyperlipidemia, Enhancing Cardiovascular Health and Alleviating Inflammation in Metabolic Disorders

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) has emerged as a pivotal signaling molecule implicated in diverse physiological processes, spanning metabolic regulation, inflammation, and cardiovascular health. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of GDF15's multifaceted role, primarily focusing on its association with obesity-related complications and therapeutic potential. GDF15's involvement in energy homeostasis, specifically its regulation of body weight and appetite through hindbrain neuron activation and the GFRAL-RET signaling pathway, underscores its significance as an appetite-regulating hormone. GDF15's intricate modulation within adipose tissue dynamics in response to dietary changes and obesity, coupled with its influence on insulin sensitivity, highlights its critical role in metabolic health. The manuscript delves into the intricate crosstalk between GDF15 and pathways related to insulin sensitivity, macrophage polarization, and adipose tissue function, elucidating its potential as a therapeutic target for metabolic disorders associated with obesity. GDF15's association with chronic low-grade inflammation and its impact on cardiovascular health, particularly during hyperlipidemia and ischemic events, are explored. The intricate relationship between GDF15 and cardiovascular diseases, including its effects on endothelial function, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure, emphasizes its multifaceted nature in maintaining overall cardiovascular well-being. Challenges regarding the therapeutic application of GDF15, such as long-term safety concerns and ongoing clinical investigations, are discussed. Lastly, future research directions exploring GDF15's potential in addressing obesity-related complications and cardiovascular risks are proposed, highlighting its promising role as a therapeutic target in reshaping treatment strategies for obesity and associated health conditions.

GDF15 is a major determinant of ketogenic diet-induced weight loss

A ketogenic diet (KD) has been promoted as an obesity management diet, yet its underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here we show that KD reduces energy intake and body weight in humans, pigs, and mice, accompanied by elevated circulating growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). In GDF15- or its receptor GFRAL-deficient mice, these effects of KD disappeared, demonstrating an essential role of GDF15-GFRAL signaling in KD-mediated weight loss. Gdf15 mRNA level increases in hepatocytes upon KD feeding, and knockdown of Gdf15 by AAV8 abrogated the obesity management effect of KD in mice, corroborating a hepatic origin of GDF15 production. We show that KD activates hepatic PPARγ, which directly binds to the regulatory region of Gdf15, increasing its transcription and production. Hepatic Pparγ-knockout mice show low levels of plasma GDF15 and significantly diminished obesity management effects of KD, which could be restored by either hepatic Gdf15 overexpression or recombinant GDF15 administration. Collectively, our study reveals a previously unexplored GDF15-dependent mechanism underlying KD-mediated obesity management.

Research Progress on the Role and Mechanism of GDF15 in Body Weight Regulation

BACKGROUND

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is a member of the growth differentiation factor subfamily in the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. GDF15 has multiple functions and can regulate biological processes. High levels of GDF15 in the circulation can affect metabolic processes. Studies have shown that GDF15 is associated with changes in body weight.

SUMMARY

This review reviews the current knowledge on the relationship between GDF15 and body weight change, focusing on the role and mechanism of GDF15 in body weight regulation. GDF15 plays an important role in reducing food intake, improving insulin resistance, and breaking down fat, suggesting that GDF15 has an important regulatory effect on body weight. The mechanism by which GDF15 causes reduced food intake may be related to changes in food preference, delayed gastric emptying, and conditioned taste aversion. GDF15 can combat insulin resistance induced by inflammation or protect β cell from apoptosis. GDF15 probably promotes lipolysis through a brain-somatic tissue circuit. Several factors and related signaling pathways are also mentioned that can contribute to the effects of GDF15 on reducing weight.

KEY MESSAGE

GDF15 plays an important role in weight regulation and provides a new direction for the treatment of obesity. Its effects on resisting obesity are of great significance to inhibiting the progression of metabolic diseases. It is expected to become a new target for regulating body weight, improving obesity, and treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

Molecular basis of GDF15 induction and suppression by drugs in cardiomyocytes and cancer cells toward precision medicine

GDF15 has recently emerged as a key driver of the development of various disease conditions including cancer cachexia. Not only the tumor itself but also adverse effects of chemotherapy have been reported to contribute to increased GDF15. Although regulation of GDF15 transcription by BET domain has recently been reported, the molecular mechanisms of GDF15 gene regulation by drugs are still unknown, leaving uncertainty about the safe and effective therapeutic strategies targeting GDF15. We screened various cardiotoxic drugs and BET inhibitors for their effects on GDF15 regulation in human cardiomyocytes and cancer cell lines and analyzed in-house and public gene signature databases. We found that DNA damaging drugs induce GDF15 in cardiomyocytes more strongly than drugs with other modes of action. In cancer cells, GDF15 induction varied depending on drug- and cell type-specific gene signatures including mutations in PI3KCA, TP53, BRAF and MUC16. GDF15 suppression by BET inhibition is particularly effective in cancer cells with low activity of the PI3K/Akt axis and high extracellular concentrations of pantothenate. Our findings provide insights that the risk for GDF15 overexpression and concomitant cachexia can be reduced by a personalized selection of anticancer drugs and patients for precision medicine.

Pharmacotherapy for chronic obesity management: a look into the future

Substantial leaps have been made in the drug discovery front in tackling the growing pandemic of obesity and its metabolic co-morbidities. Greater mechanistic insight and understanding of the gut-brain molecular pathways at play have enabled the pursuit of novel therapeutic agents that possess increasingly efficacious weight-lowering potential whilst remaining safe and tolerable for clinical use. In the wake of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) based therapy, we look at recent advances in gut hormone biology that have fermented the development of next generation pharmacotherapy in diabesity that harness synergistic potential. In this paper, we review the latest data from the SURPASS and SURMOUNT clinical trials for the novel 'twincretin', known as Tirzepatide, which has demonstrated sizeable body weight reduction as well as glycaemic efficacy. We also provide an overview of amylin-based combination strategies and other emerging therapies in the pipeline that are similarly providing great promise for the future of chronic management of obesity.

Effects of acute exercise and exercise training on plasma GDF15 concentrations and associations with appetite and cardiometabolic health in individuals with overweight or obesity - A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is seemingly involved in appetite control. Acute exercise increases GDF15 concentrations in lean humans, but acute and long-term effects of exercise on GDF15 in individuals with overweight/obesity are unknown. We investigated the effects of acute exercise and exercise training on GDF15 concentrations in individuals with overweight/obesity and associations with appetite and cardiometabolic markers. 90 physically inactive adults (20-45 years) with overweight/obesity were randomized to 6-months habitual lifestyle (CON, n=16), or isocaloric exercise of moderate (MOD, n=37) or vigorous intensity (VIG, n=37), 5 days/week. Testing was performed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Plasma GDF15 concentrations, other metabolic markers, and subjective appetite were assessed fasted and in response to acute exercise before an ad libitum meal. Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, insulin sensitivity, and intraabdominal adipose tissue were measured. At baseline, GDF15 increased 18% (95%CI: 4; 34) immediately after acute exercise and 32% (16; 50) 60 min post-exercise. Fasting GDF15 increased 21% (0; 46) in VIG after 3 months (p=0.045), but this attenuated at 6 months (13% (-11; 43), p=0.316) and was unchanged in MOD (11% (-6; 32), p=0.224, across 3 and 6 months). Post-exercise GDF15 did not change in MOD or VIG. GDF15 was not associated with appetite or energy intake. Higher GDF15 was associated with lower cardiorespiratory fitness, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and poorer glycemic control. In conclusion, GDF15 increased in response to acute exercise but was unaffected by exercise training. Higher GDF15 concentrations were associated with a less favorable cardiometabolic profile but not with markers of appetite. This suggests that GDF15 increases in response to acute exercise independent of training state. Whether this has an impact on free-living energy intake and body weight management needs investigation.

Astaxanthin Supplemented with High-Intensity Functional Training Decreases Adipokines Levels and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Men with Obesity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks of high-intensity training with astaxanthin supplementation on adipokine levels, insulin resistance and lipid profiles in males with obesity. Sixty-eight males with obesity were randomly stratified into four groups of seventeen subjects each: control group (CG), supplement group (SG), training group (TG), and training plus supplement group (TSG). Participants underwent 12 weeks of treatment with astaxanthin or placebo (20 mg/d capsule daily). The training protocol consisted of 36 sessions of high-intensity functional training (HIFT), 60 min/sessions, and three sessions/week. Metabolic profiles, body composition, anthropometrical measurements, cardio-respiratory indices and adipokine [Cq1/TNF-related protein 9 and 2 (CTRP9 and CTRP2) levels, and growth differentiation factors 8 and 15 (GDF8 and GDF15)] were measured. There were significant differences for all indicators between the groups (p < 0.05). Post-hoc analysis indicated that the levels of CTRP9, CTRP2, and GDF8 were different from CG (p < 0.05), although levels of GDF15 were similar to CG (p > 0.05). Levels of GDF8 were similar in the SG and TG groups (p > 0.05), with reductions of GDF15 levels in both training groups (p < 0.05). A total of 12 weeks of astaxanthin supplementation and exercise training decreased adipokines levels, body composition (weight, %fat), anthropometrical factors (BMI), and improved lipid and metabolic profiles. These benefits were greater for men with obesity in the TSG group.

A positive feedback loop between AMPK and GDF15 promotes metformin antidiabetic effects

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Metformin, the most prescribed drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, has been recently reported to promote weight loss by upregulating the anorectic cytokine growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). Since the antidiabetic effects of metformin are mostly mediated by the activation of AMPK, a key metabolic sensor in energy homeostasis, we examined whether the activation of this kinase by metformin was dependent on GDF15.

METHODS

Cultured hepatocytes and myotubes, and wild-type and Gdf15^-/- mice were utilized in a series of studies to investigate the involvement of GDF15 in the activation of AMPK by metformin.

RESULTS

A low dose of metformin increased GDF15 levels without significantly reducing body weight or food intake, but it ameliorated glucose intolerance and activated AMPK in the liver and skeletal muscle of wild-type mice but not Gdf15^-/- mice fed a high-fat diet. Cultured hepatocytes and myotubes treated with metformin showed AMPK-mediated increases in GDF15 levels independently of its central receptor GFRAL, while Gdf15 knockdown blunted the effect of metformin on AMPK activation, suggesting that AMPK is required for the metformin-mediated increase in GDF15, which in turn is needed to sustain the full activation of this kinase independently of the CNS.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these findings uncover a novel mechanism through which GDF15 upregulation by metformin is involved in achieving and sustaining full AMPK activation by this drug independently of the CNS.

Linear-like polypeptide-based micelle with pH-sensitive detachable PEG to deliver dimeric camptothecin for cancer therapy

Nano drug delivery systems have made significant progress in delivering anticancer drugs camptothecin (CPT). However, many challenges for CPT delivery remain, including low drug loading efficiency, premature drug leakage, and poor cellular internalization. Herein, we report a novel dual-sensitive polypeptide-based micelle with remarkably high drug loading of CPT for cancer therapy. This self-assembled micelle possesses the following essential components for CPT: (1) pH-sensitive PEG (OHC-PEG-CHO) for prolonging blood circulation and allowing biocompatibility by shielding the cationic micelles, which can be detached under the tumor acidic microenvironment and facilitates the cellular uptake; (2) polypeptide polylysine-polyphenylalanine (PKF) synthesized via ring-opening polymerization for micelle formation and CPT analogue loading; (3) dimeric CPT (DCPT) with redox-sensitive linker for increasing CPT loading and ensuring drug release at tumor sites. Interestingly, the linear-like morphology of PEG-PKF/DCPT micelles was able to enhance their cellular internalization when compared with the spherical blank PKF micelles. Also, the anticancer efficacy of DCPT against lung cancer cells was significantly improved by the micelle formation. In conclusion, this work provides a promising strategy facilitating the safety and effective application of CPT in cancer therapy.

Knocking on GDF15's door for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Although a large number of drugs are available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many patients do not achieve adequate disease control despite adhering to medication. Recent findings indicate that the pharmacological modulation of the stress-induced cytokine growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) shows promise for the treatment of T2DM. GDF15 suppresses appetite and reduces inflammation, increases thermogenesis and lipid catabolism, sustains AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, and ameliorates insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. In addition, circulating GDF15 levels are elevated in response to several antidiabetic drugs, including metformin, with GDF15 mediating some of their effects. Here, we review the mechanistic insights into the beneficial effects of recently explored therapeutic approaches that target GDF15 for the treatment of T2DM.

The Emerging Role of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors in Treating Diet-Induced Obesity: New Opportunities for Breast and Ovarian Cancers?

Overweight and obesity constitute the most impactful lifestyle-dependent risk factors for cancer and have been tightly linked to a higher number of tumor-related deaths nowadays. The excessive accumulation of energy can lead to an imbalance in the level of essential cellular biomolecules that may result in inflammation and cell-cycle dysregulation. Nutritional strategies and phytochemicals are gaining interest in the management of obesity-related cancers, with several ongoing and completed clinical studies that support their effectiveness. At the same time, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are becoming an important target in breast and ovarian cancer treatment, with various FDA-approved CDK4/6 inhibitors that have recently received more attention for their potential role in diet-induced obesity (DIO). Here we provide an overview of the most recent studies involving nutraceuticals and other dietary strategies affecting cell-cycle pathways, which might impact the management of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as the repurposing of already commercialized chemotherapeutic options to treat DIO.