SuspendedNot Applicable

Ketogenic Dietary Intervention to Improve Response to Immunotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma and Metastatic Kidney Cancer

Stopped: pending amendment

United States60 participantsStarted 2025-11-17

Plain-language summary

This phase I trial studies how well a ketogenic dietary intervention works to improve response to immunotherapy in patients with melanoma and kidney cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). A ketogenic diet (KD) means eating fewer carbohydrates and more fats. The purpose is to use ketones (normal breakdown from fat) instead of glucose (sugar) as an energy source. Researchers want to see whether a ketogenic diet can improve tumor response in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). ICI are newer treatment options that help the immune system better fight some cancers. Following a KD may improve tumor response in patients with metastatic melanoma and metastatic kidney cancer treated with ICI.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females, age \>= 18 years * Clinical site A will include patients with confirmed diagnosis of metastatic melanoma (including those with brain metastases) receiving first line treatment with combination nivolumab and ipilimumab or single agent ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab * Clinical site B will include patients with confirmed diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (including those with brain metastases) receiving first line treatment with combination nivolumab and ipilimumab or single agent PD-1 inhibitor (e.g., nivolumab, pembrolizumab) * Scheduled for imaging every 6 to 12 weeks for metastatic melanoma (MM) and mRCC as is standard of care per National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines * Able to read, understand, and provide written informed consent * Willing to provide stool specimen for research studies as outlined in the timeline * Willing to participate in a ketogenic diet (KD) Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals \< 18 years of age * Unable or unwilling to provide consent * Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes using insulin * Patients who are clinically underweight (body mass index \[BMI\] \< 18.5) at the start of treatment * Other active malignancy (other than adequately treated and cured basal or squamous cell skin cancer, curatively treated in situ disease, or any other cancer from which the patient has been disease free \>=5 years) * Currently consuming a low-carbohydrate (\< 130 g/…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Incidence of adverse events

Timeframe: Up to 1 year

Adherence (feasibility measure)

Timeframe: Up to 1 year

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06391099

SponsorOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8 trials