How gut bacteria affect cancer treatment effectiveness

Improvement of cellular immunotherapy during dysbiosis- Resubmission

NIH-funded research Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11059705

This study is looking at how changes in gut bacteria caused by antibiotics might affect the success of immunotherapy for patients with advanced melanoma, with the hope of finding ways to improve treatment results for those who need it.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Little Rock, United States)
Project IDNIH-11059705 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of antibiotic-induced changes in gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, on the effectiveness of cellular immunotherapy for melanoma patients. By understanding how these changes affect the immune system and tumor microenvironment, the researchers aim to develop strategies to enhance the response to immunotherapy. The study focuses on advanced melanoma, where current treatment responses are only about 50%. The goal is to identify ways to overcome the negative effects of dysbiosis and improve treatment outcomes for patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced melanoma who are undergoing or considering cellular immunotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage melanoma or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved effectiveness of immunotherapy for melanoma patients, potentially increasing survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of addressing dysbiosis in relation to immunotherapy is novel, similar research has shown that gut microbiome health can influence treatment outcomes in cancer therapies.

Where this research is happening

Little Rock, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 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.