Gut bacteria and cancer drugs: how your gut may change chemotherapy effectiveness
Official title: Metabolism of cancer chemotherapeutics by the human gut microbiome
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11473233 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how the gut microbiome might affect how well certain chemotherapy drugs work and their side effects in people with cancer.
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) | $135,331 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA255116-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473233 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancer who are treated with fluoropyrimidines (like 5-FU or capecitabine) could potentially benefit from insights that tailor therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving fluoropyrimidines or whose cancer type diverges from the studied models may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how gut bacteria influence the metabolism of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy drugs like 5-FU and capecitabine using test-tube experiments and mouse models. The goal is to identify specific gut bacteria, genes, and enzymes that alter drug levels and effects, which could explain why patients respond differently. Findings could lead to better dosing strategies or supportive therapies to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity for cancer patients. The work will use in vitro assays, gnotobiotic mice, and xenograft models to connect microbial metabolism with drug PK/PD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could pave the way for personalized chemotherapy plans that consider a patient’s gut microbiome to optimize effectiveness and minimize side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show microbiome can affect drug metabolism; this project builds on that by linking specific bacteria and enzymes to 5-FU and CAP metabolism.
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.