How gut bacteria affect cancer through amino acid metabolism

The role of microbiota amino acid metabolism in cancer

NIH-funded research Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11105385

This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might affect cancer by seeing how they use amino acids, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how these tiny microbes could help in preventing or treating cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11105385 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between gut bacteria and cancer by focusing on how these microbes metabolize amino acids. The team aims to identify specific bacteria and their genes that deplete amino acids in the intestines and how this depletion influences tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment. By using advanced techniques such as bioinformatics, metabolomics, and mouse models, they will manipulate these microbial pathways to better understand their role in cancer development. Ultimately, the goal is to create engineered gut bacteria that could help prevent or treat cancer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients or individuals at high risk for developing cancer who are interested in the role of gut health in their condition.

Not a fit: Patients with non-cancerous conditions or those who do not have any gastrointestinal issues may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for cancer prevention and treatment by targeting gut microbiota.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of microbiota in cancer, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions anti-cancer therapy
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.