NCT04730869

Metabolic Therapy Program In Conjunction With Standard Treatment For Glioblastoma

Completed NA Last updated 9 April 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Standard Treatment Plus Metabolic Therapy Program in Glioblastoma in 18 participants. Completed in 1 April 2026.

Timeline

26 May 2021

Primary endpoint
18 February 2025

1 April 2026

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Waikato Hospital
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	18
Start date	26 May 2021
Primary completion	18 February 2025
Estimated completion	1 April 2026
Sites	1 location across New Zealand

Drugs / interventions tested

• Standard Treatment Plus Metabolic Therapy Program

Conditions studied

• Glioblastoma — all drugs for Glioblastoma →

Sponsor

Waikato Hospital

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Glioblastoma. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Glioblastoma (GBM), a very aggressive brain tumour, is one of the most malignant of all cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. The majority of GBM cells display damaged mitochondria (the "batteries" of cells), so they rely on an alternate method for producing energy called the Warburg Effect, which relies nearly exclusively on glucose (in contrast, normal cells can use other molecules, such as fatty acids and fat-derived ketones, for energy). Metabolic interventions, such as fasting and ketogenic diets, target cancer cell metabolism by enhancing mitochondria function, decreasing blood glucose levels, and increasing blood ketone levels, creating an advantage for normal cells but a disadvantage for cancer cells. Preliminary experience at Waikato Hospital has shown that a metabolic therapy program (MTP) utilizing fasting and ketogenic diets is feasible and safe in people with advanced cancer, and may provide a therapeutic benefit. We aim to determine whether using an MTP concurrently with standard oncological treatment (chemoradiation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy) is feasible and safe in patients with GBM, and has treatment outcomes consistent with greater overall treatment efficacy than in published trials.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Understanding the immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical perspectives.
   Lin H, Liu C, Hu A, Zhang D, et al · · 2024 · cited 232× · PMID 38720342 · DOI 10.1186/s13045-024-01544-7
2. Mechanisms of Resistance and Current Treatment Options for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).
   Yalamarty SSK, Filipczak N, Li X, Subhan MA, et al · · 2023 · cited 151× · PMID 37046777 · DOI 10.3390/cancers15072116
3. Effects of dietary intervention on human diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.
   Xiao YL, Gong Y, Qi YJ, Shao ZM, et al · · 2024 · cited 120× · PMID 38462638 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-024-01771-x
4. From signalling pathways to targeted therapies: unravelling glioblastoma's secrets and harnessing two decades of progress.
   Dewdney B, Jenkins MR, Best SA, Freytag S, et al · · 2023 · cited 60× · PMID 37857607 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-023-01637-8
5. Science-Driven Nutritional Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer.
   Montégut L, de Cabo R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G. · · 2022 · cited 32× · PMID 35997502 · DOI 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0504
6. Dietary Interventions in Cancer Treatment and Response: A Comprehensive Review.
   Mercier BD, Tizpa E, Philip EJ, Feng Q, et al · · 2022 · cited 28× · PMID 36291933 · DOI 10.3390/cancers14205149
7. Obesity, cancer risk, and time-restricted eating.
   Das M, Webster NJG. · · 2022 · cited 25× · PMID 35984550 · DOI 10.1007/s10555-022-10061-3
8. Metabolomic and Lipidomic Profiling of Gliomas-A New Direction in Personalized Therapies.
   Gaca-Tabaszewska M, Bogusiewicz J, Bojko B. · · 2022 · cited 20× · PMID 36291824 · DOI 10.3390/cancers14205041