How calorie restriction affects immune cells to fight ovarian cancer
Official title: Determining the mechanisms by which calorie restriction alters macrophage polarization to promote an anti-tumor environment in epithelial ovarian cancer
Funded at Henry Ford Health System · NIH-10839842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how eating fewer calories might help your immune system fight epithelial ovarian cancer better by changing the way certain immune cells work, and it's aimed at finding new dietary tips that could make cancer treatments more effective for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $327,056 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA249188-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10839842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer who are looking for complementary approaches to enhance their treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-epithelial ovarian cancers or those who are not eligible for dietary interventions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how reducing calorie intake can change the behavior of immune cells in the body to create a more favorable environment for fighting epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). By studying the effects of a 30% calorie restriction in a mouse model, the researchers aim to understand the mechanisms that lead to decreased tumor growth and improved immune response. The focus is on how calorie restriction alters the balance between different types of macrophages, which are immune cells that can either promote or inhibit tumor growth. The ultimate goal is to identify dietary strategies that could enhance existing cancer treatments and improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new dietary recommendations that help improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that dietary interventions can positively influence cancer outcomes, suggesting that this approach may hold promise.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health System
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rattan, Ramandeep — Henry Ford Health System
- Study coordinator: Rattan, Ramandeep
Related research
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-
TAG72 CAR-T therapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer
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Understanding how cancer cells talk to the immune system and how to use that to treat ovarian cancer
This grant studies how aging-like changes in ovarian cancer cells drive harmful signals and tests new ways to block those signals to improve treatment.
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A phase I/II study tests a vaccine that activates Th17 immune cells together with pembrolizumab to help fight recurrent ovarian cancer.
-
CAR T-cell therapy targeting TAG72 for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer
This trial tries a CAR T‑cell treatment that targets the TAG72 protein for people with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, given directly into the abdomen.
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.