Understanding how gut bacteria affect immune responses in colorectal cancer treatment
Official title: Microbiome-Mediated Tumor Immunomodulation in a Pathomimetic Colorectal Cancer Chip
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11060355 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might help make immunotherapy work better for colorectal cancer patients whose tumors usually don’t respond to standard treatments, by exploring how your unique gut bacteria interact with your tumor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $400,890 |
| NIH project number | 1R33CA286797-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11060355 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are colorectal cancer patients with mismatch repair-proficient and microsatellite-stable tumors who have not responded to existing immunotherapy treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with colorectal cancer who have mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite-instable tumors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the gut microbiome in influencing the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors for colorectal cancer patients whose tumors typically do not respond to standard immunotherapy. By analyzing patient-specific tumor-microbiome interactions using advanced 3D models, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that could enhance the immune response against tumors. The approach involves co-culturing patient-derived tumors with their corresponding microbiomes to assess how these interactions can be leveraged to improve treatment outcomes. The ultimate goal is to develop personalized strategies that could make immunotherapy more effective for patients with resistant colorectal cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved immunotherapy options for colorectal cancer patients who currently have limited treatment responses.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown promise in understanding tumor-microbiome interactions, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights into enhancing cancer treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Hyun Jung — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Kim, Hyun Jung
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
-
Colorectal cancer prognosis through a broad, collaborative study
A large, multi-center study follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find biomarkers and patterns that predict outcomes and guide future care.
-
Ceramides and how they affect metabolism and colorectal cancer in adults
A study in adults with obesity-related health issues will explore how a fat-related molecule called ceramide influences metabolic problems and colorectal cancer risk.
-
Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
-
Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
-
Comparative modeling to guide colorectal cancer screening and care
A researcher team will use computer models to study how access to care, risk, and new screening options affect colorectal cancer outcomes and costs for adults in the US.
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.