The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether changing the diet can help improve gut health and support recovery from immune-related side effects caused by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) cancer treatment in adults with solid tumors who develop moderate to severe immune-related side effects that require steroid treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a high-fermented food diet or a high-fiber resistant starch supplement change the gut microbiome (the bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive tract) during treatment? Does either dietary approach improve gut microbiome diversity and function by the end of the 7-week intervention period? Researchers will compare participants assigned to a high-fermented food diet with participants assigned to high-fiber resistant starch supplementation to see if one approach leads to greater improvements in the gut microbiome and related biological measures. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary intervention groups: High-fermented food diet High-fiber resistant starch supplement Follow their assigned diet for 7 weeks, starting when their ICI treatment is restarted. Provide stool samples before the intervention begins and regularly throughout the study. Have blood samples collected at the start of the study and approximately every 3 to 4 weeks during participation. Provide skin and mouth swab samples at the beginning of the study and again at Week 7. Complete food diaries and symptom assessments during the study. Participate in a 2-week follow-up period after completing the dietary intervention. Researchers will also evaluate the safety of the dietary interventions, whether immune-related side effects return, how the immune system responds, and how closely participants follow their assigned diet.
OBJECTIVES: Primary: 1\. To longitudinally assess changes in gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolomic function in patients with solid tumors who develop grade ≥2 irAEs during ICI therapy and undergo dietary modification with either high-fermented foods (Arm 1) or high-fiber supplementation (Arm 2). Secondary: 1. To determine the safety and tolerability of dietary interventions in patients with ICI-related irAEs 2. To assess the incidence and severity of recurrent or new irAEs during and after dietary intervention 3. To characterize changes in circulating innate and adaptive immune cell populations (frequency, phenotype, and function) associated with dietary modification 4. To measure changes in circulating inflammatory cytokines and metabolites associated with dietary intervention Exploratory: 1. To assess patient-reported gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life during dietary intervention 2. To determine adherence rates to assigned dietary interventions using dietary logs and biomarker validation 3. To explore associations between baseline physical activity levels and gut microbiome composition 4. To longitudinally assess skin and oral microbiota composition, diversity, and function in relation to dietary modification 5. To perform integrative multi-omic analyses exploring relationships between diet, microbiome, immune phenotypes, and clinical outcomes
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Participants will consume a high-fermented food diet consisting of at least 6 servings of fermented foods per day for 7 weeks. Participants will receive dietary counseling and regular follow-up with a nutritionist to support adherence to the assigned dietary intervention.
Participants will receive HI-MAIZE 260, high-amylose cornstarch resistant starch dietary fiber supplement, daily for 7 weeks. Participants will receive dietary counseling and regular follow-up with a nutritionist to support adherence to the assigned dietary intervention.
Change in Gut Microbiota composition
To longitudinally assess changes in gut microbiota composition, in patients with solid tumors who develop grade ≥2 irAEs during ICI therapy and undergo dietary modification with either high-fermented foods (Arm 1) or high-fiber supplementation (Arm 2).
Time frame: Baseline through Week 7
Incidence of Adverse Events related to dietary intervention
The incidence and severity of adverse events related to dietary intervention will be graded per CTCAE v5.0.
Time frame: Baseline throguh Week 9 (approximately 11 weeks)
Tolerability of the dietary intervention
Tolerability will be assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale at baseline and every 2 weeks throughout the study period.
Time frame: Baseline throguh Week 9 (approximately 11 weeks)
Incidence of new immune-related adverse events following ICI re-initiation
New grade ≥2 irAEs will be monitored by organ system following ICI re-initiation, including severity grading per CTCAE v5.0
Time frame: 12 months
Changes in Circulating Immune Cells
Changes from baseline to end of intervention will be assessed in the circulating innate immune cells. Measurements will be obtained at baseline (Week -2 to -1), Week 4, Week 7, and post-intervention (Week 8 or 9).
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 4, 7, and Week 8-9
Changes in Circulating Inflammatory Markers
Changes from baseline to the end of the intervention will be assessed in circulating inflammatory markers. Measurements will be obtained at baseline (Week -2 to -1), Week 4, Week 7, and post-intervention (Week 8 or 9).
Time frame: Baseline, Weeks 4, 7, and Week 8-10
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