The role of gut bacteria in cancer treatment outcomes for kidney cancer patients
Official title: Gut Microbiome and Cancer Immunotherapy Outcomes in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11060888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might influence how well immunotherapy works for people with advanced kidney cancer, aiming to find out which gut bacteria can help predict treatment success and side effects, so doctors can better personalize care for each patient.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $876,059 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA255322-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11060888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced renal cell carcinoma who are eligible for immunotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage renal cell carcinoma or those not receiving immunotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the gut microbiome affects the outcomes of immunotherapy in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). By analyzing gut bacteria profiles before treatment, the study aims to identify specific bacterial species and pathways that correlate with patient responses to immunotherapy, including both positive outcomes and adverse effects. The research will also explore how changes in the gut microbiome during treatment relate to T-cell activation and overall patient survival. This could help tailor immunotherapy approaches to individual patients based on their gut microbiome composition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized immunotherapy strategies that improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects for kidney cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut microbiome's influence on cancer treatment outcomes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fedirko, Veronika — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Fedirko, Veronika
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut bacteria and immunotherapy outcomes in advanced kidney cancer
This project compares people’s gut bacteria to their responses and side effects from immunotherapy for advanced kidney cancer.
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Improving kidney cancer treatment by enhancing immune response
This study is looking at how to help your immune system better fight kidney cancer by understanding a protein that helps cancer cells survive, with the hope of improving current treatments for patients like you.
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Understanding how kidney cancer spreads to bone and how to fight it
A patient-focused look at how clear cell renal cell carcinoma spreads to bone and how new treatments might help people with advanced disease.
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Improve precision medicine for kidney cancer in people of African descent
A research project will explore why kidney cancer affects people of African ancestry differently and how to use genomics to guide better treatments.
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Engineering immunogenic cell death to boost melanoma and kidney cancer therapy
This grant supports research aimed at making melanoma and kidney cancer cells die in a way that triggers a stronger immune response in patients.
-
Prognostic test to predict metastasis in clear cell kidney cancer
A new 12-marker biomarker test for people with clear cell renal cell carcinoma may help doctors predict which patients are at higher risk of metastasis.
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.