Boosting the body's inflammation-resolution signals to counter cancer-related wasting

Control of cancer cachexia via stimulation of resolution of inflammation

NIH-funded research Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11237614

Seeks to boost the body's natural inflammation-resolution signals to reduce muscle and weight loss in people with advanced cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11237614 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

From my perspective, the team will use laboratory and animal models to understand why inflammation fails to resolve in cancer and how that failure leads to muscle wasting. They plan to test naturally occurring pro-resolving lipid mediators (like resolvins) that help immune cells clear cellular debris, lower harmful inflammation, and promote tissue repair. Their prior work shows these mediators can counteract pro-inflammatory signals and slow tumor growth in preclinical models. The overall aim is to create pro-resolving therapies that could eventually be translated into treatments for people with cancer cachexia.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with advanced cancer who are experiencing progressive weight loss and muscle wasting (cancer cachexia) would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this research.

Not a fit: Patients without cancer-related wasting (for example, early-stage cancer patients without cachexia or people with non-cancer causes of wasting) may not benefit directly from these findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reduce or reverse cancer-related muscle wasting and improve strength, appetite, and quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: Related pro-resolving mediators have shown promise in preclinical models, but pro-resolving therapies for cancer cachexia are novel and have not yet been tested in patients.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Advanced Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.