Using gut bacteria to improve cancer treatment for solid tumors
Official title: Therapy with fecal microbiota transplantation and immune checkpoint blockade for solid tumors
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11139449 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores if changing gut bacteria through fecal microbiota transplantation can help immune checkpoint medicines work better for people with solid tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | June 16, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $632,135 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA268806-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139449 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with solid tumors, such as melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer, whose cancers have not responded to immune checkpoint blockade treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors are responding well to current immune checkpoint therapies or who have not yet received such treatments may not receive direct benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Many people with solid tumors like melanoma and lung cancer don't respond to standard immune checkpoint medicines. We know that the types of bacteria in a person's gut might affect how well these medicines work. This project aims to understand how gut bacteria influence the immune system's fight against cancer. We are testing if transplanting beneficial gut bacteria can make immune checkpoint medicines more effective for patients whose cancers have not responded to these treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new way to help patients with solid tumors who currently do not benefit from immune checkpoint therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that fecal microbiota transplantation can help resensitize melanoma patients to anti-PD1 medicines, and a first-in-human phase II study reported clinical benefit in some patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zarour, Hassane M — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Zarour, Hassane M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Fecal microbiota transplantation plus immune checkpoint blockers for solid tumors
This project looks at whether changing gut bacteria with fecal transplants can boost how well cancer treatments called immune checkpoint blockers work in people with solid tumors.
-
Fecal transplant plus fiber to treat graft-versus-host disease after blood stem cell transplant
A study to see if giving fecal transplant along with dietary fiber helps gut health and reduces complications in patients who have received a stem cell transplant and developed graft-versus-host disease.
-
Proteolytic Activity-Guided Fecal Microbiota Transplant for PI-IBS
A pilot study will test a targeted fecal microbiota transplant to help adults with post-infection irritable bowel syndrome feel better and have fewer GI symptoms.
-
Fecal transplant treatment for auto-brewery (gut fermentation) syndrome
This project gives capsule fecal microbiota transplants to adults with auto-brewery syndrome to try to stop their gut from producing alcohol and causing unexplained intoxication.
-
A new way to use gut bacteria transplants for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
This research explores if a special type of fecal microbiota transplant, guided by specific gut enzyme activity, can safely and effectively improve symptoms for adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome that developed after an infection.
-
Using Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Fiber to Treat Graft-versus-host Disease After Stem Cell Transplants
This work explores how giving patients healthy gut bacteria and fiber might help manage graft-versus-host disease, a common issue after stem cell transplants.
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.