How tumor and immune cell metabolism affects cancer progression

Role of metabolic crosstalk in determining immunity during tumor progression

NIH-funded research Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10888404

This study is looking at how cancer cells and immune cells affect each other’s energy use and behavior, with the goal of finding ways to boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer and improve treatment outcomes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10888404 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the interactions between tumor cells and immune cells, focusing on how their metabolic processes influence each other during cancer progression. It aims to understand how nutrient competition and metabolic waste in the tumor microenvironment affect immune cell function and their ability to fight cancer. By developing a new algorithm called Compass, the researchers will analyze these metabolic interactions at a cellular level, providing insights into how to enhance anti-tumor immunity and improve responses to therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancer who are undergoing or considering immunotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancers that do not require immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in understanding metabolic interactions in cancer, but this approach using the Compass algorithm is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Boston, 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 2026-06-13 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.