Melanoma & Immunotherapy: Fiber’s Role
- CHICAGO — New research presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting suggests a high-fiber diet may significantly enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma treatment.
- McQuade from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center noted the diet aligns with recommendations for secondary cancer prevention and cardiometabolic health.
- Approximately half of melanoma patients do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
A high-fiber diet dramatically boosts immunotherapy response in melanoma patients, according to new research presented at ASCO. The study reveals those consuming up to 50g of fiber daily saw a significant increase in objective response rates compared to others. This breakthrough suggests plant-rich eating coudl revolutionize cancer treatment, possibly benefiting patients with other tumor types.News Directory 3 keeps you informed with the latest updates on this promising growth. Researchers are also exploring related approaches to bolster immunotherapy,including the manipulation of the gut microbiome.discover what’s next in dietary strategies for melanoma care.
High-Fiber Diet Improves Immunotherapy Response in Melanoma
Updated June 03, 2025
CHICAGO — New research presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting suggests a high-fiber diet may significantly enhance the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma treatment. The study found that melanoma patients consuming up to 50 g of fiber daily experienced a nearly 50% higher objective response rate compared to those on a control diet with 20 g of fiber.
A plant-rich,high-fiber diet may improve outcomes for patients undergoing immunotherapy. Image: Adobe Stock.
Dr.Jennifer L. McQuade from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center noted the diet aligns with recommendations for secondary cancer prevention and cardiometabolic health. “Even though we still need validation studies, [the results] would suggest that adopting a plant-rich, high-fiber diet may improve outcomes in patients receiving immunotherapy,” McQuade told Healio.
The Role of Fiber in Microbiome Manipulation
Approximately half of melanoma patients do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Researchers have been exploring various strategies to improve immunotherapy response, including the manipulation of the microbiome. prior studies suggest that statins and keto diets coudl also play a role in enhancing immunotherapy’s impact.
McQuade explained that bacteria associated with improved immunotherapy response are those that break down fiber.The DIET study, led by McQuade and her team, investigated whether changing a patient’s diet to increase fiber intake could alter their microbiome and, consequently, their response to immunotherapy. The study involved 43 patients who were randomly assigned to either a high-fiber diet or a healthy control diet.
Yufan Qiu, MD, PhD, presented an analysis of ORR, pathological response rate, PFS, EFS, recurrence rate, recurrence