Calorie reduction to help the immune system fight cancer
Dietary regulation of anti-tumor immunity through caloric restriction
This project looks at whether eating fewer calories and increasing ketone availability helps immune T cells better fight tumors in people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304546 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will reduce calorie intake (about 30–50%) and study how that changes nutrients in the tumor environment, focusing on ketone bodies versus fatty acids. They will track how these changes steer CD8 T cells between active tumor-killing and exhausted states using animal models, cellular experiments, and molecular analyses. The work examines epigenetic, transcriptional, and metabolic programs in T cells and tests whether the ability of T cells to use ketones is required for the anti-tumor effect. Findings aim to reveal diet-regulated mechanisms that could guide future dietary or drug approaches to boost anti-tumor immunity.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors who are open to dietary interventions or who are receiving immune-based cancer treatments would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers that do not rely on immune responses, or those who cannot safely reduce calorie intake, may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to dietary strategies or new therapies that strengthen T cell responses to help control tumors.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and early clinical work suggests calorie restriction or ketogenic approaches can slow tumor growth and alter immunity, but the specific role of ketone metabolism in CD8 T cells is a newer, still-emerging finding.
Where this research is happening
Grand Rapids, United States
- Van Andel Research Institute — Grand Rapids, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Russell Graham — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Jones, Russell Graham
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 below.