Gut bacteria and cancer drugs: how your gut may change 5-FU treatment
Official title: Metabolism of cancer chemotherapeutics by the human gut microbiome
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11397471 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at UC San Francisco studies how the gut microbiome affects how people respond to cancer drugs like 5-FU and capecitabine, aiming to explain differences in effectiveness and side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $552,282 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA255116-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397471 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with colorectal cancer or those treated with 5-FU/CAP who are open to future microbiome-informed approaches and trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy or without access to gut microbiome insight may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses lab experiments and mouse models to uncover which gut bacteria and their genes change the way fluoropyrimidines are processed in the body. By identifying specific bacteria that inactivate or modify 5-FU and CAP, the team hopes to map how gut microbes influence drug levels and outcomes. The goal is to generate data that could guide better dosing or personalized approaches for colorectal cancer patients in the future. This work builds on existing findings and moves from in vitro studies to preclinical mouse models to understand mechanisms in a living system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more predictable drug responses and fewer side effects for cancer patients through microbiome-informed strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that gut bacteria can affect drug metabolism; this project extends those observations to specific bacteria and enzymes in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turnbaugh, Peter James — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Turnbaugh, Peter James
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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.