In 2024 and 2025, Delhaize will provide financial and logistical support by delivering weekly boxes of plant-based products (fruit, vegetables, nuts and grains) to sixty cancer patients. The FORX project, led by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and UZ Brussel, with support from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), is investigating the impact of a high-fibre diet on the side effects of immunotherapy for cancer patients.

Varied Diet for Better Health

Dr Marthe Verhaert, a VUB PhD student and medical oncologist at UZ Brussel, explains: "We want to explore whether a varied diet, consisting of at least 30 different 'plants' (fruit, vegetables, nuts) per week, can improve the tolerance of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. Immunotherapy can cause side effects when the immune system becomes overactive and inflames healthy cells. This can lead to issues such as rashes, thyroid inflammation and intestinal inflammation. Our study, named FORX (FOod intervention to Reduce immunotherapy toXicity), will run over two years. The hypothesis is that a high-fibre diet will strengthen the immune system, helping it to better cope with the side effects of treatment."

For 12 weeks, 60 cancer patients will receive a weekly home delivery containing 30 different types of fruit, vegetables and nuts, along with dietary advice from a nutritionist. The effects of this diet on the immune system and gut flora will be studied through blood and stool analyses before, during, and after the dietary intervention, as well as in response to any side effects.

Professor Dr Sandrine Aspeslagh, medical oncologist at UZ Brussel, emphasises the importance of this research: "The results of this study could mark a significant step forward in cancer treatment. If the hypothesis is confirmed, it could pave the way for specific dietary recommendations for patients undergoing immunotherapy, potentially improving their chances of recovery."

VUB UZBRUSSEL

"After a cancer diagnosis, patients often ask what they can do themselves to support their treatment. Through the FORX study, we aim to provide a pragmatic and scientifically grounded answer to that question," adds Dr Marthe Verhaert.

Sébastien Cools, CIO of Delhaize, echoes this sentiment: "We are convinced that diet plays a crucial role in our health and wellbeing. By participating in this study, we hope to help improve the treatment and quality of life for cancer patients."

E-commerce Serving Patients and Customers

Delhaize is using its e-commerce platform, Delhaize.be, to make this initiative more accessible and affordable for patients. By delivering the boxes directly to patients' homes, their daily lives are made easier. With no need to travel, patients can focus on their health and treatment. This service saves patients time and energy, while still giving them access to a wide range of fresh, varied and high-quality products.

"Our e-commerce team is committed to making life easier for people in Belgium by delivering 'Delhaize' straight to their door, with options tailored to their needs, thanks to our three dedicated services (Collect, Home Delivery, and Delivery+). This collaboration perfectly reflects our values, and we are pleased to support this initiative by offering free delivery to patients participating in this study," says Jennifer Nemry, VP of E-Commerce, Foodservices & Data at Delhaize.

*"This is a machine translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies.