Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Could metabolic therapies become part of the future of cancer care?
That question sits at the center of Dr. Bret Scher’s conversation with neurologist and researcher Dr. Matthew Phillips, whose recent study explored a metabolic approach in people with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
Rather than relying on a single intervention, the study combined a ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, and repeated five-day fasts alongside standard chemotherapy and radiation. Together, these strategies were designed to lower the Glucose Ketone Index, or GKI, by reducing glucose and increasing ketones.
In this conversation, they explore:
- Why cancer cell metabolism is becoming an important area of research
- How glucose, ketones, and mitochondrial function may influence cancer growth
- Why the GKI was a central target in the study
- How fasting and ketogenic therapy were integrated with standard cancer treatment
- The difference between intentional weight loss and cancer cachexia
- Why quality of life deserves as much attention as survival
- What the study’s long-term survivors may teach researchers
- Why larger randomized trials are still needed
Participants following the metabolic protocol achieved an average GKI of 1.88, and every participant completed all eight five-day fasts. The metabolic therapy group also had a median survival of 21 months compared with 14 months in the control group, along with a higher rate of survival beyond three years.
These results offer a compelling reason to keep studying this approach, particularly in a cancer with such limited treatment options and a difficult prognosis. Since the trial was small and nonrandomized, it can’t provide definitive answers, but it does give researchers a strong foundation to build on.
👉 Want to stay up to date with the latest research on metabolic health and metabolic psychiatry? Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: metabolicmind.org/about-us/newsletter
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine
*Expert Featured:*
Dr. Matthew Phillips
- metabolicneurologist.com
- https://x.com/drmclphillips
*Resources Mentioned*
*Intensive multimodal ketogenic metabolic therapy in glioblastoma: A clinical trial*
- doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdag165
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at metabolicmind.org
*About us:*
Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
*Timestamps:*
0:00 - Introduction: Can Metabolic Therapy Change the Future of Cancer Treatment?
1:30 - Why Modern Medicine Often Misses the Root Cause of Disease
4:22 - Metabolic Therapy for Cancer: Why Research Is Still in Its Early Stages
6:20 - The Glioblastoma Study: Combining Ketogenic Therapy with Prolonged & Intermittent Fasting
10:23 - Can Metabolic Therapy Reduce Chemotherapy Side Effects & Improve Quality of Life?
13:00 - Weight Loss During Cancer Treatment: Healthy Adaptation vs. Cancer Cachexia
15:40 - The Glucose Ketone Index (GKI): Why Reaching a Target of 2 May Matter for Cancer
19:22 - Glioblastoma Survival Results: How Metabolic Therapy Compared to Standard Care
21:15 - What Will It Take for Metabolic Therapy to Become Part of Cancer Care?
25:58 - Could This Metabolic Approach Work for Other Types of Cancer?
29:30 - What the Study Found, Its Limitations, & Where Research Goes Next
33:14 - Why This Glioblastoma Study Could Change the Future of Metabolic Cancer Research
Could metabolic therapies become part of the future of cancer care?
That question sits at the center of Dr. Bret Scher’s conversation with neurologist and researcher Dr. Matthew Phillips, whose recent study explored a metabolic approach in people with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer.
Rather than relying on a single intervention, the study combined a ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, and repeated five-day fasts alongside standard chemotherapy and radiation. Together, these strategies were designed to lower the Glucose Ketone Index, or GKI, by reducing glucose and increasing ketones.
In this conversation, they explore:
- Why cancer cell metabolism is becoming an important area of research
- How glucose, ketones, and mitochondrial function may influence cancer growth
- Why the GKI was a central target in the study
- How fasting and ketogenic therapy were integrated with standard cancer treatment
- The difference between intentional weight loss and cancer cachexia
- Why quality of life deserves as much attention as survival
- What the study’s long-term survivors may teach researchers
- Why larger randomized trials are still needed
Participants following the metabolic protocol achieved an average GKI of 1.88, and every participant completed all eight five-day fasts. The metabolic therapy group also had a median survival of 21 months compared with 14 months in the control group, along with a higher rate of survival beyond three years.
These results offer a compelling reason to keep studying this approach, particularly in a cancer with such limited treatment options and a difficult prognosis. Since the trial was small and nonrandomized, it can’t provide definitive answers, but it does give researchers a strong foundation to build on.
👉 Want to stay up to date with the latest research on metabolic health and metabolic psychiatry? Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: metabolicmind.org/about-us/newsletter
🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.
#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #FoodAsMedicine
*Expert Featured:*
Dr. Matthew Phillips
- metabolicneurologist.com
- https://x.com/drmclphillips
*Resources Mentioned*
*Intensive multimodal ketogenic metabolic therapy in glioblastoma: A clinical trial*
- doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdag165
Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.
Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at metabolicmind.org
*About us:*
Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.
Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.
*Timestamps:*
0:00 - Introduction: Can Metabolic Therapy Change the Future of Cancer Treatment?
1:30 - Why Modern Medicine Often Misses the Root Cause of Disease
4:22 - Metabolic Therapy for Cancer: Why Research Is Still in Its Early Stages
6:20 - The Glioblastoma Study: Combining Ketogenic Therapy with Prolonged & Intermittent Fasting
10:23 - Can Metabolic Therapy Reduce Chemotherapy Side Effects & Improve Quality of Life?
13:00 - Weight Loss During Cancer Treatment: Healthy Adaptation vs. Cancer Cachexia
15:40 - The Glucose Ketone Index (GKI): Why Reaching a Target of 2 May Matter for Cancer
19:22 - Glioblastoma Survival Results: How Metabolic Therapy Compared to Standard Care
21:15 - What Will It Take for Metabolic Therapy to Become Part of Cancer Care?
25:58 - Could This Metabolic Approach Work for Other Types of Cancer?
29:30 - What the Study Found, Its Limitations, & Where Research Goes Next
33:14 - Why This Glioblastoma Study Could Change the Future of Metabolic Cancer Research
