Fecal microbiota transplantation plus immune checkpoint blockers for solid tumors
Official title: Therapy with fecal microbiota transplantation and immune checkpoint blockade for solid tumors
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11364138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether changing gut bacteria with fecal transplants can boost how well cancer treatments called immune checkpoint blockers work in people with solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $632,795 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA268806-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364138 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors who are candidates for immune checkpoint therapies and meet study-specific criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not respond to immunotherapy or who cannot tolerate gut microbiome interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine fecal microbiota transplantation with immune checkpoint therapies to see if gut bacteria influence cancer treatment success. The study will collect patient samples and use bioinformatics to identify microbial patterns that correlate with better responses. If favorable signals emerge, this could guide personalized gut microbiome strategies to enhance cancer therapy in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience better responses to cancer immunotherapy and longer control of tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies suggest gut bacteria can influence responses to immunotherapy, but findings vary and more evidence is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zarour, Hassane M — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Zarour, Hassane M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using gut bacteria to improve cancer treatment for solid tumors
This research explores if changing gut bacteria through fecal microbiota transplantation can help immune checkpoint medicines work better for people with solid tumors.
-
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This research explores if a special type of fecal microbiota transplant, guided by specific gut enzyme activity, can safely and effectively improve symptoms for adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome that developed after an infection.
-
Using Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Fiber to Treat Graft-versus-host Disease After Stem Cell Transplants
This work explores how giving patients healthy gut bacteria and fiber might help manage graft-versus-host disease, a common issue after stem cell transplants.
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.