impact of a prebiotic food-enriched diet (prefed) in combination with ipilimumab/nivolumab combination immune checkpoint blockade (icb) in icb-refractory melanoma patients

Conditions: ICB-refractory Melanoma

Summary: to learn about the possible effects of a prebiotic food-enriched diet (prefed) targeting the gut microbiome in participants with ici-refractory melanoma who are receiving the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab as part of their standard care.

primary objectives determining the overall response rate (orr) to prefed intervention + ipi/nivo in icb-refractory metastatic melanoma participants. secondary objectives 1. determine progression-free survival (pfs) and overall survival (os) to prefed + ipi/nivo in icb refractory melanoma 2. compliance and adherence to interventions 3. determine the safety (aes) and tolerability (gsrs-ibs) of the dietary intervention 4. assess the rate of immune related adverse events in participants on immunotherapy receiving dietary interventions 5. assess the effects of dietary intervention on systemic and tumor immunity 6. assess the effect of dietary intervention on gut microbiome composition and networks 7. assess the effects of dietary intervention on gut metabolic output and systemic metabolism 8. assess the effects of dietary interventions on quality of life and other participant reported outcomes (pros)

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. age ≥ 18 years old 2. english-speaking 3. body mass index (bmi) 18.5-45 kg/m2 4. ecog performance status of 0 or 1 5. histologically confirmed stage iii/iv, unresectable cutaneous melanoma. asymptomatic brain metastases are allowed. 6. prior treatment with anti-pd1 or anti-pd-1 + anti-lag3 agents and documented disease progression either while on these agents or after stopping therapy without intervening therapy. 7. planned initiation of standard-of-care ipilimumab 3 mg/kg + nivolumab 1 mg/kg 8. measurable disease per recist 1.1 9. self-reported willingness to eat the provided foods (with some tailoring to their food preferences) 10. self-reported willingness to comply with scheduled visits, undergo venipuncture, provide stool samples. exclusion criteria: 1. prior treatment with anti-ctla4 2. mucosal or uveal melanoma 3. concurrent malignancy requiring systemic therapy other than hormonal therapy. 4. history of inflammatory bowel disease, total colectomy, or bariatric surgery 5. currently taking steroids \> prednisone 10 mg/day or equivalent 6. iv antibiotic use in the past month or oral antibiotic use in past 2 weeks 7. regularly taking supplements containing prebiotics, fiber and/or probiotics, and unable/unwilling to discontinue for the purpose of the study. 8. medical contraindications to the intervention diet as determined by the treating physician. 9. self-reported major dietary restrictions, including but not limited to relevant food allergies, celiac disease, or diets such as vegan, ketogenic, extended fasting. 10. insulin-dependent diabetes or conditions requiring bile-acid sequestrants. 11. current smoker or heavy drinker (defined as \>14 drinks per week) or current illicit drug use. 12. currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or lactating. 13. cognitively impaired adults