This is a neoadjuvant study to determine the feasibility and tolerability of 2 weeks of a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet in combination with letrozole for patients with early stage operable ER+disease.
Primary Objective: • To evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of a 2 week ketogenic diet in combination with endocrine therapy prior to surgery for early stage ER+ breast cancer. Secondary Objectives * To determine whether endocrine therapy in combination with a dietary intervention to reduce insulin pathway signaling results in enhanced inhibition of cancer cell proliferation (measured byKi67) * To determine the effectiveness of 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet to reduce measures of insulin/PI3Kpathway activation in breast tumors * To measure changes in weight and body composition after 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet * To measure changes in insulin resistance after 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet * To measure the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet in combination with endocrine therapy to induce and maintain a ketogenic state. Outline: Participants will have baseline metabolic parameters measured and will begin a 2-week diet consisting of meal replacement shakes to induce a ketogenic state. Patients will also receive letrozole 2.5 mg daily. At the end of 2 weeks, metabolic parameters will again be measured and patients will proceed with surgical treatment of their breast cancer. A tumor biopsy from the surgical specimen will be obtained to measure cell proliferation compared with the pre-treatment diagnostic biopsy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
31
2-Week Ketogenic Diet in Combination with Letrozole
2.5 mg taken once daily by mouth
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Patients who complete the dietary intervention
The number of patients who complete the dietary intervention, as well as the reasons for early discontinuation and any adverse events will be reported. The number of of cases where pre- and post-treatment samples could be obtained and successfully analyzed for Ki67 and insulin signaling will also be reported.
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Measure enhanced inhibition of cancer cell proliferation
Measured by Ki67
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Reduction in measures of insulin/P13K pathway activation
Marks of insulin receptor/PI3K pathway activation in tumors
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Measure changes in body composition
Waist circumference will be measured
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Measure changes in body composition
Weight will be checked
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Measure changes in body composition
Height will be checked
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Measure changes in body composition
Body mass index will be measured
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet
Measure changes in insulin resistance
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Fasting glucose/insulin to measure HOMA-IR
Time frame: After 2 weeks of a ketogenic diet