Understanding how gut bacteria affect immune responses in colorectal cancer treatment
Microbiome-Mediated Tumor Immunomodulation in a Pathomimetic Colorectal Cancer Chip
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 ID | NIH-11060355 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: Patients with colorectal cancer who have mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite-instable tumors may not benefit from this research.
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 performed: 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, United States
- 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
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 below.