Clinical Trial Finder

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  INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  - Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed melanoma that has not been treated with any systemic therapy in the past 30 days.

• - Participants must be planning to undergo immunotherapy treatment with one of the following options: ipilimumab and nivolumab, relatlimab and nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or nivolumab.

Note: This treatment is permissible to have started up to 14 days prior to completion of baseline assessments on this study to still be eligible for enrollment.

• - Age >= 18 years and English speaking.

English-language ability is required because a portion of the study involves reading and responding to English-language questionnaires, along with creating a free response spoken answer to a question, where the information will be transcribed and analyzed.

• - Willingness and capability to comply with diet and exercise prescriptions, use the MyFitnessPal app, wear the Garmin (trademark) device, complete surveys, and provide stool samples.

Participants must own a smartphone capable of running the MyFitnessPal and Garmin Connect (trademark) apps.

• - ECOG performance status <=2 (Karnofsky >60%).

• - The ability of the subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

• - Participants who are receiving any investigational agents other than relatlimab or nivolumab.

• - Any concurrent malignancy that requires active systemic therapy.

• - Any health condition that requires treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted therapy.

• - Medical contraindications to the study diet and/or exercise prescriptions as determined by a physician.

• - Self-reported dietary and/or exercise restrictions that would preclude adherence to the study diet and exercise prescriptions.

• - Systemic antibiotic use within the past 30 days.

• - Use of probiotic supplements (probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, etc., are permissible), fiber supplements, bile acid.

sequestrants, weight loss supplements, or appetite suppressants within the last 30 days.

• - Women known to be pregnant or lactating are excluded from the study because it is unknown if the study diet and exercise prescriptions may have deleterious effects on the child and/or mother in the context of pregnancy/breastfeeding.

• - Current smoker or < 8 weeks since smoking cessation.

There is evidence that smoking may alter the microbiome.

• - Heavy drinker defined as >14 alcoholic drinks per week.

• - Current illicit drug use.

There is evidence that illicit drug use may alter the microbiome.

• - Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type I or II that requires treatment.

• - Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

Background: The human gut microbiome is a topic of growing research interest because it modulates many systems, including immune function; and, alterations of the microbiome have been associated with the development of many diseases, including cancer. Optimization of the gut microbiome can increase the probability of responding to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy with responders exhibiting a higher level of gut microbial diversity than non-responders. Therefore, efforts are underway to investigate the effects of. modulating the microbiome on response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Diet is a major modulator of the gut microbiome. In particular, a high-fiber, plant-based diet promotes greater gut microbial diversity while diets high in animal fats and protein are associated with lower gut microbial diversity. Exercise has been shown to increase gut microbial diversity independent of diet in both mice and humans. In addition, exercise has long been known to lower cancer risk and improve outcomes in cancer patients, possibly through its ability to enhance immune. function. Although diet and exercise prescriptions are cost-effective and implementable on a large scale, poor compliance is a major issue. Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) can help improve participant engagement and compliance with lifestyle change recommendations. In melanoma participants, we hypothesize that the combination of a high-fiber, plant-based diet and exercise will increase gut microbial diversity and potentially increase the probability of responding to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Objectives: To determine the feasibility of conducting a decentralized clinical trial involving diet and exercise prescriptions with stool sample collections in previously untreated, unresectable melanoma participants who will be undergoing treatment with relatlimab and nivolumab. Eligibility: Adults with melanoma who will be undergoing treatment with one of the following immunotherapy options: ipilimumab and nivolumab, relatlimab and nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or nivolumab. -Adequate organ function as defined by the liver, kidney, and hematologic laboratory. testing. -Participants who have recently used antibiotics, probiotics, fiber supplements, or any other. products/medications that can significantly alter the gut microbiome will be excluded. Design: Feasibility trial wherein participants will be randomized in a 1-to-1 fashion to the following arms: Intervention Arm: 30 participants will be instructed to adopt a high-fiber, plant-based diet and to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week. Control Arm: 30 participants will be educated on general healthy eating and exercise guidelines, but they will not be instructed to change their behavior. All participants will be asked to periodically record dietary intake (in the MyFitnessPal app or other logs, if needed), to wear a Garmin (trademark) physical activity tracker, and to collect stool samples periodically. Feasibility will be determined by assessing whether greater than or equal to 60% of participants in each arm adhere to their respective protocols.

Arms

Experimental: 1

Intervention

Other: 2

Control- Standard diet and Exercise

Interventions

Behavioral: - Intervention Arm

High fiber, plant based diet + exercise prescription with ACT sessions

Behavioral: - Control

Standard diet and exercise recommendations