Short-term fasting during chemotherapy – Investigation of tumor cells in the blood

Zusammenfassung der Studie

This study investigates how short fasting around the first chemotherapy affects cancer cells that can be detected in the blood. These cells are called circulating tumor cells. They can enter the bloodstream from the tumor and may be related to the course of the disease. Adult female patients with breast cancer or a gynecological cancer who receive chemotherapy as standard treatment can participate. The chemotherapy itself will not be altered by participation in the study. Some participants will fast under medical supervision for about 36–40 hours around the first chemotherapy. Other participants will not fast and will receive chemotherapy as usual. This allows for comparison of whether circulating tumor cells change differently in patients with and without fasting. During the study, blood samples will be taken at specified times. This will allow for the examination of circulating tumor cells and additional measurements related to metabolism. Some blood samples will be taken at specific times of the day to account for natural daily fluctuations. No additional examinations such as CT or MRI will be conducted. Participation lasts only a few days around the first chemotherapy. Fasting will be medically supervised and can be stopped at any time if a participant feels unwell. No direct personal benefit is expected. The results are intended to help better understand the relationship between fasting, metabolism, and circulating tumor cells during chemotherapy, thereby creating a foundation for further research. Participation is voluntary; non-participation or withdrawal will not have disadvantages for further treatment.

(BASEC)

Untersuchte Intervention

Short-term, medically supervised fasting around the first chemotherapy.

The intervention consists of a time-limited abstention from calorie intake for about 36–40 hours in the peri-chemotherapeutic period. No medication or medical product is used. Chemotherapy is carried out independently of the study according to medical standards and is not altered by the intervention.

(BASEC)

Untersuchte Krankheit(en)

Metastatic breast cancer and metastatic gynecological cancers

(BASEC)

Sponsor

Universitätsspital Basel

(BASEC)

Name der bewilligenden Ethikkommission (bei multizentrischen Studien nur die Leitkommission)

Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz EKNZ

(BASEC)

Datum der Bewilligung durch die Ethikkommission

29.05.2026

(BASEC)

Ergebnisse der Studie