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NCT Number: NCT07537348

Safety and Efficacy of Leucine-Restricted Diet Combined With Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Advanced Gastric Cancer

Based on existing literature, we posit that a leucine-restricted diet is safe and well-tolerated in patients with advanced gastric cancer receiving combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Patients adhering to this dietary regimen exhibit a significant reduction in serum leucine concentrations, with no notable impact on the serum levels of other amino acids. Furthermore, leucine restriction promotes the activation of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. When applied in conjunction with chemotherapy and immunotherapy for advanced gastric cancer, this approach demonstrates synergistic anti-tumor efficacy. It is expected to enhance tumor response rates , improve the 1-year survival rate, prolong overall survival (OS), and ultimately optimize patient prognosis.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Hui Qu, Doctor of Medicine

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86-18560085120

About this study

This study employs a self-controlled design to comprehensively evaluate the safety and efficacy of a leucine-restricted diet combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer, with follow-up assessments of survival status to determine the 1-year survival rate and Overall Survival (OS). For patients eligible for R0 resection, anti-tumor efficacy will be pathologically assessed using the Tumor Regression Grade system, alongside statistical analysis of tumor response rates following combined therapy. Furthermore, the study will investigate mechanistic changes by comparing the tumor immune microenvironment and serum amino acid profiles (including leucine) before and after dietary intervention, while monitoring alterations in patient body composition, ultimately aiming to validate the hypothesis that leucine restriction enhances therapeutic outcomes in this setting.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis and Treatment Plan: Patients with advanced gastric cancer with distant metastasis, confirmed by imaging modalities (such as CT or PET-CT) and clinical pathological data, who are indicated for combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
  • Demographics: Aged 18 to 70 years, regardless of gender.
  • Dietary Capability: Capable of oral intake or receiving liquid diet via nasogastric tube.
  • Consent: Willing to participate in this study and have signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF).
  • Exclusion of Other Malignancies: No concurrent primary malignant tumors other than gastric cancer.

Exclusion criteria

  • Cognitive or Psychiatric Impairment: Cognitive dysfunction or psychiatric disorders that prevent the patient from understanding the study content or providing informed consent.
  • Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Gastrointestinal Conditions: Presence of severe diarrhea, intractable vomiting, severe malabsorption syndrome, paralytic or mechanical intestinal obstruction, or active gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Allergy:Known hypersensitivity or allergy to any of the main components of the leucine-deficient nutritional powder.
  • Concomitant Supplements: Current use of other nutritional supplements that may potentially confound the study results or affect efficacy evaluation.
  • Treatment Tolerance: Inability to tolerate combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or occurrence of severe gastrointestinal adverse events following such treatment.

Treatment and study plan

Lucine-restricted diet

Dietary Supplement

During each hospitalization cycle for combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy, study participants will undergo a 3-day leucine-restricted diet concurrently with PD-1 inhibitor and chemotherapy administration; following this 3-day intervention period, the dietary restriction will be discontinued, and patients will gradually resume a normal diet.

Primary outcomes

  1. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) Grade

    Time frame: 1 year after therapy

    This scoring system includes four grades: CR, PR, PD, and SD, where CR stands for complete response, PR for partial response, PD for progressive disease, and SD for stable disease.

  2. 1-year survival rate and overall survival (OS)

    Time frame: 1 year after surgery

    This indicator is calculated by comprehensively summarizing the 1-year survival rate and overall survival.

  3. The tumor regression grade (TRG) system

    Time frame: 1 month after surgery

    TRG (Tumor Regression Grade) is used to assess pathological response after neoadjuvant therapy based on the 8th edition AJCC/CAP criteria. Different grades represent varying degrees of regression: TRG 0 indicates complete response (no residual tumor cells); TRG 1 indicates near-complete response (scattered residual tumor cells, <10%); TRG 2 indicates partial response (residual tumor cells accounting for 10%-50%); TRG 3 indicates no or minimal response (residual tumor cells >50%). Higher grades suggest poorer treatment efficacy.

  4. Grade of CTCAE grading system

    Time frame: 6 months after therapy

    This indicator was assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grading system, which comprises five grades (1-5). Grade 1 represents no or mild symptoms, while Grade 5 indicates death.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in the Immune Microenvironment of Gastric Cancer Patients Following a Leucine-Restricted Diet

    Time frame: Measurements were performed prior to the initiation of the amino acid-restricted diet and on the day of surgery before the operation.

    Comparative analysis of tumor scRNA-seq and ctDNA profiles pre- and post-diet, alongside flow cytometry-based assessment of circulating CD8+ T cells and ctDNA levels in blood samples.

  2. Serum concentrations of various amino acids, including leucine, in patients with gastric cancer

    Time frame: Measurements were performed prior to the initiation of the amino acid-restricted diet and on the day of surgery before the operation.

    Peripheral blood was collected for the determination of amino acid concentrations.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Hui Qu, Doctor of Medicine

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86-18560085120

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Leucine-Restricted Diet in Gastric Cancer Patients Treated With Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Acronym: LUCENT-GC-03

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Apr 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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