Body fats and immune signals shaping bladder cancer outlook
Official title: Impact of Body Composition and Related Inflammatory and Immune States on Prognosis of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11337623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will look at how body composition and immune/inflammatory states at diagnosis relate to the outlook for people with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 14, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $857,307 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA280991-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11337623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newly diagnosed NMIBC patients who have biospecimens and comprehensive clinical data available within the Be-Well cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to the Be-Well data or those not matching NMIBC criteria may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will use data from a large existing cohort of NMIBC patients to analyze how factors like body fat, muscle mass, and inflammatory markers at diagnosis relate to cancer recurrence and progression. They will examine genetic and lifestyle data alongside biospecimens to understand the biology behind prognosis. The goal is to identify patterns that could help predict who is at higher risk and tailor follow-up care. Results could inform personalized monitoring and potential interventions to improve survival and quality of life for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better risk stratification and more personalized follow-up for NMIBC patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with BCG therapy shows the importance of the immune environment; this study adds the body composition angle to prognosis.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwan, Marilyn L — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Kwan, Marilyn L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How body composition and inflammation affect outcomes in bladder cancer
This study is looking at how things like weight and muscle loss affect the health and treatment of people with early-stage bladder cancer, hoping to find ways to better predict outcomes and tailor treatments for patients.
-
Nrf2 in T cells and how it could boost immune power against bladder cancer
A small grant will explore how a T-cell protein called Nrf2 affects muscle-invasive bladder cancer and whether targeting it could help patients respond better to immune therapies.
-
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Researchers are testing a new combination approach using a special anti-CD40 antibody with existing bladder cancer therapies to help patients whose NMIBC did not respond to standard BCG treatment.
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This project will use detailed tissue and genetic tests to look for what makes some non-muscle invasive bladder cancers resist BCG so better treatments can be found for people who don't respond.
-
Salt-based nanomedicine to treat bladder cancer that doesn’t respond to standard BCG therapy
A patient-focused overview of a new salt-based nanoparticle therapy designed to target non-muscle invasive bladder cancer that is resistant to BCG treatment.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.