Using D3-Creatine to improve diagnosis of muscle wasting in cancer patients
Official title: Pre-clinical study for the use of D3-Creatine as a biomarker in cachexia clinical trials
Funded at Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital · NIH-10916607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a substance called D3-Creatine might help doctors better diagnose muscle wasting in veterans with cancer, so they can find more effective treatments and improve their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hines, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 1I21RX005146-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10916607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with cancer who are experiencing symptoms of muscle wasting or cachexia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have cancer or muscle wasting disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of D3-Creatine as a biomarker to accurately diagnose muscle wasting disorders, specifically cachexia, in veterans with cancer. The study aims to address the limitations of current diagnostic methods, which often fail to provide precise assessments of muscle mass and function. By conducting pre-clinical tests, the researchers hope to establish a reliable correlation between D3-Creatine levels and muscle health, ultimately improving the classification of muscle wasting in cancer patients. This could lead to better-targeted treatments and improved patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses of muscle wasting in cancer patients, allowing for better treatment strategies and improved quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While D3-Creatine has shown promise in other contexts, its application specifically for cancer-related muscle wasting is still under investigation and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
Hines, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lieber, Richard L. — Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lieber, Richard L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia
A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.
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CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.
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Adipose tissue and its role in lung cancer cachexia
A new NIH grant explores how fat tissue around the body may feed lung cancer growth and drive weight loss, with the aim of finding ways to help patients who struggle with cancer cachexia.
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Spatial metabolism mapping in cancer cachexia tissues
Aims to map where and how metabolism changes in tissues affected by cancer cachexia using advanced imaging technology.
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Innate inflammatory control of cachexia in chronic disease
A research team is studying how inflammation drives cachexia in chronic disease using a parasite model to find therapies that could protect lean body mass without raising infection risk.
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Nuclear receptors that may stop muscle wasting in cancer
This grant explores whether activating specific muscle-regulating receptors can prevent muscle loss in cancer patients.
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.