Ketogenic metabolic therapy to boost hormone/immunity therapy in lung cancer patients
Official title: Ketogenic metabolic therapy as therapeutic adjunct in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibition therapy for non-small cell lung cancer
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11350471 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach combines a ketogenic metabolic therapy with immune checkpoint therapy to help people with non-small cell lung cancer respond better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,473 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA312387-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350471 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with NSCLC eligible for immune checkpoint inhibition who can commit to the supplement regimen and monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients intolerant to ketosis, metformin, or the supplement components, or those with contraindications to immune therapy, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a pill-and-powder regimen that promotes ketosis while patients receive immune checkpoint inhibitors for NSCLC. It uses a combination of beta-hydroxybutyrate, medium-chain fats, alpha-ketoglutarate, and metformin to create a stable metabolic state that may enhance treatment effects. The study will enroll about 20 patients and monitor safety, ketosis levels, immune responses, and cancer outcomes over two years. Researchers expect this approach to be feasible and acceptable for patients, with careful attention to side effects and adherence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience improved responses to immune therapy and better disease control.
How similar studies have gone: Similar ketogenic approaches have shown feasibility and hints of immune modulation in preliminary work, but this exact combination is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Egan, Kathleen M. — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Egan, Kathleen M.
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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.