What type of study is this?

This is a Human Clinical Trial study (also classified as: Phase 2).

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the feasibility of a medically supervised ketogenic diet alongside chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

March 14, 2026Open Access

A randomized phase II trial of gemcitabine, nab‐paclitaxel, cisplatin with or without a medically supervised ketogenic diet for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

Key Points

To evaluate the feasibility of a medically supervised ketogenic diet alongside chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Conducted a randomized phase II trial with patients diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Compared outcomes of chemotherapy with and without the ketogenic diet.
Measured progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity, and quality of life (QOL).
Showed trends towards improved PFS and OS for those receiving the ketogenic diet and chemotherapy.
No added toxicity was observed from the combined treatment.
Quality of life (QOL) remained unaffected.

Abstract

The MSKD is feasible in patients with PDAC and, although not powered for definitive outcomes, shows trends in improved PFS and OS when combined with gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and cisplatin, without added toxicity or detriment to QOL. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings and establish the value of the MSKD in pancreatic cancer treatment.

A randomized phase II trial of gemcitabine, nab‐paclitaxel, cisplatin with or without a medically supervised ketogenic diet for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

Key Points

Abstract

Cite This Study