Ketogenic Therapy for Brain Cancer

(GLAD-KE Trial)

This trial explores whether a Ketogenic Diet (high in fats and low in carbs) or a ketone supplement is safe and practical for individuals with recurring glioma, a type of brain cancer, who are undergoing surgery. Participants will either follow a special diet or take a supplement for a week before their surgery. The trial seeks individuals diagnosed with glioma, who have experienced a recurrence after previous treatment, and are preparing for surgery. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to pioneering research that could enhance future treatment options.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you must be on a stable or decreasing dose of dexamethasone (a type of steroid) before starting. You should also minimize medications containing carbohydrates.

A previous study found the ketogenic diet (KD) safe for people with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. It was used alongside standard treatments like surgery and radiation. Another analysis showed that the KD does not harm important health indicators in cancer patients, suggesting the diet is generally safe, though researchers continue to study its long-term effects.

Researchers are excited about these treatments for brain cancer because they harness the body's natural metabolic processes to target cancer cells. Unlike standard treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, which directly attack cancer cells, the ketogenic diet and ketone supplements work by altering the energy source of the cells. Cancer cells typically thrive on glucose, but these treatments limit glucose availability and instead increase ketones, which normal cells can use efficiently but cancer cells struggle with. This metabolic shift could potentially slow tumor growth while minimizing damage to healthy cells, offering a less invasive and potentially less toxic alternative to traditional therapies.

Research has shown that ketogenic diets and ketone supplements, both under investigation in this trial, may help treat brain tumors like gliomas. Participants will either follow a ketogenic diet or take ketone supplements. Studies have found that increasing blood ketone levels can slow tumor growth. In animal studies, ketone supplements reduced active tumor cells and extended lifespan. In humans, ketogenic diets have been linked to ketosis, a stable state where the body uses fat for energy, and have been associated with smaller tumors and longer survival. These findings suggest that ketogenic diets and ketone supplements could complement traditional cancer treatments.⁶⁷⁸⁹¹⁰