Ketogenic Diet in Combination With Standard-of-care Radiation and Temozolomide for Patients With Glioblastoma

Enrolled subjects will be placed on a 16-week ketogenic diet (subject specific as prescribed by RD) while receiving standard of care cancer treatment (Radiation + Temozolomide). Study dietitians will place patients on a strict and controlled diet that manages daily macronutrient breakdown and increases the ratio of dietary fat relative to protein and carbohydrate consumption. Dietitians will provide guidance and teaching of the diet, as well as, monitoring and diet adjustment to ensure metabolic ketosis. Dietitians and study physicians (and their staff) will monitor subjects for safety, nutrition, quality of life, and standard of care tumor assessments over the course of the study.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults (age ≥ 18 years)
• Newly or recently diagnosed glioblastoma. Patients may enroll in the study from the time of diagnosis (prior to the initiation of standard-of-care chemoradiation) up until the initiation of post-radiation adjuvant chemotherapy (typically approximately 3-4 weeks after the completion of radiation therapy). Overall, this provides a window of approximately 3 months from the time of diagnosis for patients to enroll in this study. No recurrent glioblastoma is allowed on trial.
• Being seen for treatment of glioblastoma at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Note: Okay if patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy at another facility
• Patients on low and managed doses of steroids are permitted. Up to 8 mg dexamethasone or steroid equivalent.

Exclusion criteria

• Karnofsky Performance Status of <70 as deemed by physician or equivalent
• Body Mass Index of <22 kg/m2 (rounded to nearest integer)
• Patients with disorders that affect lipid metabolism such as pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, porphyria, primary carnitine deficiency, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I or II deficiency, carnitine translocase deficiency, Beta-Oxidation Defects
• Medical comorbidities that in the opinion of the investigator limits the patient's ability to complete this study
• Pregnant, nursing, or implanted with an intrauterine device (IUD) that is not MR compatible
• Patients who are vegan or vegetarian will be excluded, as the ketogenic diet includes foods that may interfere with these preferences
• Patients on high doses of steroids will be excluded
• Patients currently receiving experimental therapeutic therapy will be excluded from the trial. Note: Off-label therapy use is permitted
• Inability to adhere to the protocol
• Patients with history of allergic reactions to surgical steel or elastomer/rubber are excluded from the activity monitor portion of the study. Because the activity monitor uses a Bluetooth low energy Transceiver, individuals using pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators, neuro-stimulation devices, cochlear implants, hearing aids, or other electronic medical equipment should also be excluded from wearing the activity monitor. They can still use the Aria scale to record weight.
• Patients with mechanically, magnetically, or electrically activated implants, such as cardiac pacemakers, neurostimulators, and infusion pumps, that are not magnetic resonance imaging/positron emission tomography (MRI/PET) compatible.
• Patients with ferromagnetic implants and ferromagnetic foreign bodies, such as intracranial, aneurysm clips, shrapnel and intraocular metal chips as these could become dislodged.
• Patients unable to tolerate MRI/PET imaging secondary to an inability to lie supine or severe claustrophobia as assessed by the treating physician or principal investigator.
• Patients unable to lie still, hold their breath, or follow imaging procedure instructions as assessed by the treating physician or PI.
• Patients whose most recent renal function test does not meet Cedars-Sinai Medical center standard of care MRI contrast protocol requirements (glomerular filtration rate <45ml/min).
• Patients with a known allergy to Fludeoxyglucose F18 (F18-FDG) radioactive tracer or gadolinium-based contrast agent.
• Patients with allergy to animal dander or animal-instigated asthma.