An interventional study of Time-restricted eating and Questionnaire Administration in Cancer, sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-25.
Sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to test meal-timing as a novel and sustainable interventional approach during cancer treatment to improve therapeutic response, patient well-being and long-term metabolic health. In alignment with these priorities, we propose to focus on patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumors treated with curative-intent surgical resection and planned initiation of systemic adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and/or radiation per standard of care).
A promising strategy for improving the efficacy of anticancer treatments and reducing associated toxicities involves combining treatment with fasting regimens. In pre-clinical and clinical studies, various forms of fasting have been shown to induce tumor regression and improve long-term survival. According to the differential stress sensitization theory, fasting is thought to sensitize tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation, while protecting healthy cells by increasing stress resistance. While healthy cells slow their growth and become more stress resistant in response to fasting, cancer cells cannot survive in nutrient-deficient environments; although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. However, extended water-only fasting can be challenging for patients and poses undue health risks. Intermittent fasting, and specifically time-restricted eating (TRE), may offer a viable alternative. TRE involves eating within a shorter window (e.g., 8 hours) and fasting for the remainder of the day but involves no other dietary restrictions. Because of its simplicity, TRE may be more sustainable than other fasting regimens. TRE also improves several cardio-metabolic endpoints, including insulin sensitivity, which may also be beneficial during anticancer treatments.
Participants will be randomized to one of two groups:
Participants are assigned to either TRE (8-hour daily eating period, starting 1-3 hours after waking up) or a control group defined as a ≥12-hour daily eating period. Their randomized meal assignment arm begins no later than 1-2 week after they begin cancer treatment and ends at end of treatment (resection if indicated). This is a period of approximately 6 months.
During this time, participants will be asked to record the time they started and finished eating every day. Electronic reminders and weekly calls to the participants will be made by study staff who maintain records of patient's meal timing. Researchers will time the TRE schedules relative to sleep time (not time of day), which is a reasonable proxy for circadian time. The control group was designed to mimic typical eating habits in the U.S., as data from NHANES suggest that the median American eats over a 12.5-hour period each day. Aside from these general prescriptions, no set number of snacks, meals, or calories will be prescribed. Instead, researchers will measure how TRE affects self-reported mealtimes, meal frequency, and food intake through a combination of daily adherence surveys, 3-day food records and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
Participants will receive weekly one-on-one nutrition counseling during the first month and then monthly counseling sessions thereafter. Participants will complete questionnaires at intake and subsequent follow-up assessments. Blood and stool samples will also be collected from participants throughout the study.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Histologically or cytologically confirmed
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants assigned to the TRE group will have an 8-hour daily eating period, starting 1-3 hours after waking up \[8 hours eating / 16 hours fasting per day (6+ days a week)\].
Behavioral: Time-restricted eating · Other: Questionnaire Administration · Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Behavioral: Health coaching
Participants assigned to the control group are not time-restricted, and have a 12+ hour window of eating per day.
Other: Questionnaire Administration · Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Behavioral: Health coaching
Participate in time-restricted eating plan
Complete questionnaire
Undergo collection of blood and stool
Receive nutrition counseling
Patient-reported treatment-related toxicities: Average weekly scores
Assessed via Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE v5) toxicities, which is administered weekly throughout intervention and therapy; average scores calculated at each time point, timed to oncologic treatment cycles.
Time frame: Assessed weekly from start of intervention through end of intervention (up to approximately 6 months)
Treatment Delivery: Relative dose intensity (RDI)
Relative dose intensity (RDI), defined as delivered/planned dose intensity, will be analyzed both as a continuous outcome (% of delivered vs planned) and as a binary outcome (≥85% vs. \< 85%). Regimen-level RDI will be calculated as the average across drugs or based on the dose-limiting agent.
Time frame: At end of intervention (at approximately 6 months)
Treatment Delivery: Number of patients completing planned adjuvant therapy without unplanned dose reductions or delays
Time frame: At end of intervention (at approximately 6 monhts)
Clinician-reported CTCAE grade ≥3 toxicities
Time frame: Baseline through end of intervention (at approximately 6 months)
Clinician-reported Toxicity Index
Time frame: Baseline through end of intervention (at approximately 6 months)
Changes in quality of life (QOL): EORTC QLQ-C30
Change in quality of life assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), a validated 30-item instrument measuring global health status/quality of life, functional domains (physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning), and symptom domains. Scores are linearly transformed to a 0-100 scale according to standard scoring guidelines. For global health status and functional scales, higher scores indicate better functioning or quality of life; for symptom scales, higher scores indicate greater symptom burden.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
PROMIS Anxiety
Change in anxiety measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety short form. Scores are standardized T-scores (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher scores indicate greater anxiety.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
PROMIS Fatigue
Change in fatigue measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue short form. Scores are standardized T-scores (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher scores indicate greater fatigue.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
PROMIS Physical Function
Change in physical function measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function short form. Scores are standardized T-scores (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher scores indicate better physical function.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
UCLA Loneliness Scale
Change in perceived loneliness assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Scores are calculated by summing item responses, with higher scores indicating greater perceived loneliness.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ)
Change in chronotype assessed using the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. Chronotype is derived as mid-sleep time on free days, corrected for sleep debt (MSFsc), with later times indicating more evening preference.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Change in sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The global score is calculated from seven components, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Appetite Questionnaire
Change in appetite assessed using a validated appetite questionnaire. Scores reflect patient-reported appetite levels, with higher scores indicating greater appetite (or specify direction if opposite).
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ)
Change in eating behaviors assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), including emotional eating, external eating, and restrained eating subscales. Higher scores indicate greater endorsement of the respective eating behavior.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Fasting Insulin
Change in fasting insulin levels measured from blood samples
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Fasting Glucose
Change in fasting glucose levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
IGF-1
Change in circulating IGF-1 levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Total Cholesterol
Change in total cholesterol levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
LDL Cholesterol
Change in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
HDL Cholesterol
Change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Triglycerides
Change in triglyceride levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Change in CRP levels measured from blood samples as a marker of systemic inflammation.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Vitamin D
Change in circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels measured from blood samples.
Time frame: Baseline (within 28 days prior to initiation of adjuvant therapy), approximately 2-3 months after treatment initiation, end of treatment (within 6 weeks after completion of adjuvant therapy), and follow-up (6-12 months after completion of treatment)
Changes in sleep and physical activity patterns measured by wrist actigraphy
Sleep and physical activity patterns will be assessed using wrist actigraphy to measure parameters such as sleep duration, sleep timing, sleep efficiency, and activity levels.
Time frame: Baseline and end of treatment (approximately 6 months)
Change in gut microbiome composition and diversity from stool samples
Change in stool-derived gut microbiome composition, including relative abundance of microbial taxa, and microbial diversity indices (e.g., alpha diversity such as Shannon index), measured using sequencing-based methods (e.g., 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics).
Time frame: Baseline, mid-treatment (approximately 3 months), and end of treatment (approximately 6 months)
Changes in glucose patterns measured using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
Glucose levels will be continuously monitored using a wearable continuous glucose monitor to assess changes in glycemic patterns associated with the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline and end of treatment (approximately 6 months)
Plan to share: No
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