Ketogenic diets as an adjuvant therapy in glioblastoma (the KEATING trial)

ISRCTN ISRCTN71665562
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN71665562
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03075514
Secondary identifying numbers 33354
Submission date
13/03/2017
Registration date
13/03/2017
Last edited
14/04/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-study-comparing-types-of-ketogenic-diet-in-people-with-glioblastoma-keating

Contact information

Ms Kirsty Martin-McGill
Public

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
University of Liverpool
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7LJ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)151 529 5593
Email kirsty.martin@liverpool.ac.uk
Mr Michael Jenkinson
Scientific

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
University of Liverpool
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7LJ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)151 529 5683
Email michael.jenkinson@liverpool.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Dietary
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleKetogenic diets as an adjuvant therapy In glioblastoma: a randomised pilot study
Study acronymKEATING
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to investigate protocol feasibility and patient impact by comparing two ketogenic diets in an NHS setting, with a view to informing future phase III clinical trials.
Ethics approval(s)North West, Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee, 13/01/2017, ref: 17/NW/0013
ConditionGlioblastoma
InterventionAdded 04/01/2018:
An information study is embedded into KEATING, with the aim of identifying recruitment challenges and aid understanding of the patients’ recruitment experience, by interviewing a sub-sample of patients and their relatives/ carers. This will enable the design of bespoke strategies to optimise recruitment to future trials related to ketogenic diets and gliomas.

From 31/08/2017:
Two types of ketogenic diets will be compared: the Modified Ketogenic Diet (MKD) and the Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Ketogenic Diet. Patients will be randomly assigned to a diet via a permuted block randomisation method.
Both diets are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, but contain different types and amounts of fat. The MKD is 80% fat (predominantly long chain fatty acids) and 5% carbohydrate, whilst the MCT diet is 75% fat (30% of which is from medium chain fatty acids) and 10% carbohydrate. The MCT fats in this case are to be consumed through the inclusion of a nutritional supplement/ drink (Betaquik, Vitaflo International Ltd). Both diets will be calculated and supervised by a dietitian.
Patients will commence the diet up to four months post surgical resection or biopsy, prior to receiving/ whilst receiving/ after receiving oncological treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) and follow the diet for 3 months initially (primary completion). After this period if they wish to continue with the diet follow up will be offered for 12 months (secondary completion).

Before 31/08/2017:
Two types of ketogenic diets will be compared: the Modified Ketogenic Diet (MKD) and the Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Ketogenic Diet. Patients will be randomly assigned to a diet via a permuted block randomisation method.
Both diets are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, but contain different types and amounts of fat. The MKD is 80% fat (predominantly long chain fatty acids) and 5% carbohydrate, whilst the MCT diet is 75% fat (30% of which is from medium chain fatty acids) and 10% carbohydrate. The MCT fats in this case are to be consumed through the inclusion of a nutritional supplement/ drink (Betaquik, Vitaflo International Ltd). Both diets will be calculated and supervised by a dietitian.
Patients will commence the diet post surgery, prior to commencing chemo/radiotherapy and follow the diet for 3 months initially (primary completion). After this period if they wish to continue with the diet follow up will be offered for 12 months (secondary completion).
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureRetention rate is measured by recording:
1. The number of patients who start randomized treatment as a proportion of the number randomized a 12 weeks
2. The number of patients who complete 12 months as a proportion of the number randomized
3. The time to dietary discontinuation
4. A description of barriers and facilitators to data collection and participant retention
Secondary outcome measuresFrom 31/08/2017:

1. Recruitment rate is assessed by actual recruitment compared to proposed recruitment at 12 months
2.1 Enrolment of patients (consent, randomisation, baseline screening) prior to receiving oncological treatment(s) is assessed by number of patients initiated on diet prior to starting oncological treatment at 12 months
2.2 Enrolment of patients (consent, randomisation, baseline screening) whilst receiving oncological treatment(s) is assessed by number of patients initiated on diet whilst receiving oncological treatment at 12 months
Enrolment of patients (consent, randomisation, baseline screening) after receiving oncological treatment(s) is assessed by number of patients initiated on diet after completing oncological treatment at 12 months
3. Long term retention is assessed by time to dietary discontinuation after week 12
4. Dietary adjustments required to achieve ketosis is assessed by number of dietary adjustments to macronutrient composition of MCT and MKD diets required to achieve ketosis at 12 months
5. Dietary compliance is assessed by a self reported by compliance rate at 2 years and Analysed by comparing macronutrient content assessed via 3 day food diaries to advised macronutrient content at 12 months
6. MCT supplement compliance is assessed by dose of MCT taken compared to dose advised at 12 months
7. Ketosis levels are assessed by self reported urinary ketone levels twice daily for first 6 weeks then once per week thereafter and blood ketone and glucose levels weekly at 12 months
8. Dietetic time required for each intervention is assessed by dietetic time spent on clinical and non clinical activities relating to the trial at 12 months
9. Protocol refinements required are assessed by number of deviations from the protocol including reasons for deviations at 12 months
10. Data to inform sample size calculations of future trials is assessed by retention rates at 12 months
11. Completeness of data for all trial outcomes is assessed by number of complete data sets for all trial outcomes at 12 months

Patient impact objectives
1. Quality of life is assessed by change in quality of life assessed through EORTC QLQ C30 and BN 20 questionnaires at baseline and 12 months
2. Food acceptability is assessed by change in food acceptability assessed through food acceptability questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
3. Gastrointestinal side effects are assessed by number of reported gastrointestinal side effects assessed through EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events at baseline and 12 months
4. Changes in biochemical markers are assessed by changes to biochemical markers (renal, bone, LFT, lipid profiles) during the duration of the diet at baseline and 12 months
5. Anthropometric changes are assessed by changes to anthropometry (weight, body mass index, fat mass, muscle circumference, hand grip strength) at baseline and 12 months

Before 31/08/2017:

1. Recruitment rate is assessed by actual recruitment compared to proposed recruitment at 12 months
2. Enrolment of patients (consent, randomisation, baseline screening) pre-chemoradiation is assessed by number of patients initiated on diet prior to starting chemoradiation treatment at 12 months
3. Long term retention is assessed by time to dietary discontinuation after week 12
4. Dietary adjustments required to achieve ketosis is assessed by number of dietary adjustments to macronutrient composition of MCT and MKD diets required to achieve ketosis at 12 months
5. Dietary compliance is assessed by a self reported by compliance rate at 2 years and Analysed by comparing macronutrient content assessed via 3 day food diaries to advised macronutrient content at 12 months
6. MCT supplement compliance is assessed by dose of MCT taken compared to dose advised at 12 months
7. Ketosis levels are assessed by self reported urinary ketone levels twice daily for first 6 weeks then once per week thereafter and blood ketone and glucose levels weekly at 12 months
8. Dietetic time required for each intervention is assessed by dietetic time spent on clinical and non clinical activities relating to the trial at 12 months
9. Protocol refinements required are assessed by number of deviations from the protocol including reasons for deviations at 12 months
10. Data to inform sample size calculations of future trials is assessed by retention rates at 12 months
11. Completeness of data for all trial outcomes is assessed by number of complete data sets for all trial outcomes at 12 months

Patient impact objectives
1. Quality of life is assessed by change in quality of life assessed through EORTC QLQ C30 and BN 20 questionnaires at baseline and 12 months
2. Food acceptability is assessed by change in food acceptability assessed through food acceptability questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
3. Gastrointestinal side effects are assessed by number of reported gastrointestinal side effects assessed through EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events at baseline and 12 months
4. Changes in biochemical markers are assessed by changes to biochemical markers (renal, bone, LFT, lipid profiles) during the duration of the diet at baseline and 12 months
5. Anthropometric changes are assessed by changes to anthropometry (weight, body mass index, fat mass, muscle circumference, hand grip strength) at baseline and 12 months
Overall study start date01/07/2016
Overall study end date05/03/2019

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit16 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 12; UK Sample Size: 12
Total final enrolment12
Participant inclusion criteriaFrom 31/08/2017:
1. Age 16 years and over
2. Patient at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
3. Performance status ≤2 (Sǿrensen et al., 1993)
4. Confirmed histological diagnosis of GB (WHO grade IV)
5. Undergone surgical resection or biopsy within the last 4 months and will go onto receive/ is currently receiving/ has received oncological treatment

Before 31/08/2017:
1. Age 16 years and over
2. Patient at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
3. Performance status ≤2 (Sǿrensen et al., 1993)
4. Confirmed histological diagnosis of GB (WHO grade IV)
5. Undergone surgical resection and will go onto receive chemoradiotherapy
Participant exclusion criteriaFrom 31/08/2017:
1. Having prior use of a ketogenic diet
2. Kidney dysfunction
3. Liver dysfunction
4. Gall bladder dysfunction
5. Metabolic disorder
6. Eating disorder
7. Diabetes (requiring medication)
8. Body mass index (BMI) ≤18.5kg/m2
9. Weight loss medications
10. Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
11. Performance status ≥3

Before 31/08/2017:
1. Having prior use of a ketogenic diet
2. Kidney dysfunction
3. Liver dysfunction
4. Gall bladder dysfunction
5. Metabolic disorder
6. Eating disorder
7. Diabetes (requiring medication)
8. Body mass index (BMI) ≤18.5kg/m2
9. Weight loss medications
10. Pregnancy
11. Performance status ≥3
Recruitment start date01/04/2017
Recruitment end date09/02/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7LJ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Liverpool
University/education

Research Support Office
2nd Floor Block D Waterhouse Building
3 Brownlow Street
Liverpool
L69 3GL
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)151 794 8739
Email sponsor@liv.ac.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04xs57h96

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Vitaflo
Private sector organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date05/03/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planThe trial will be undertaken as part of a PhD programme at the University of Liverpool. Completion of a thesis is proposed for July 2019. Results of the trial will be published as soon as possible, in an appropriate peer reviewed journal and presented at appropriate conferences. The financial sponsor Vitaflo International Ltd will be acknowledged, however they will have no part in conducting or analysing the trial. A newsletter detailing the findings of the trial will be circulated to patients.
IPD sharing planThe current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 28/11/2017 Yes No
Results article results 01/03/2020 18/03/2020 Yes No
Plain English results 14/04/2021 No Yes
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

14/04/2021: CRUK link added to Results (plain English).
18/03/2020: Publication reference added.
04/07/2019: ClinicalTrials.gov number added.
03/04/2019: The following changes have been made:
1. The final enrolment number has been added.
2. The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/03/2019 to 09/02/2018.
3. The overall trial end date has been changed from 30/06/2019 to 05/03/2019.
4. The intention to publish date has been changed from 31/12/2019 to 05/03/2020.
26/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Cancer, Primary sub-specialty: Brain Cancer; UKCRC code/ Disease: Cancer/ Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system" to "Glioblastoma" following a request from the NIHR.
29/01/2018: Publication reference added.
16/01/2018: Cancer Help UK lay summary link added to plain English summary field.
04/01/2018: Contact and intervention clarification. recruitment dates changed from 31/03/2018 to 31/03/2019.
31/08/2017: Interventions, outcomes, inclusion and exclusion criteria have been modified.