Using short-term diet and activity changes to help children with B‑cell leukemia respond better to treatment
Targeting obesity to improve survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
['FUNDING_R37'] · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES · NIH-10926882
A program of calorie, fat, and sugar restriction plus physical activity during initial chemotherapy aims to help children with B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia respond better to induction treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-10926882 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project combines clinical and laboratory work to use short-term calorie, fat, and glucose restriction (CFGR) together with increased physical activity during induction chemotherapy for pediatric B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‑ALL). Early-phase work showed CFGR can be integrated into induction regimens and may reduce minimal residual disease at the end of induction. Laboratory studies focus on insulin and adiponectin signaling (including AKT pathways) to understand why obese physiology makes leukemia cells resistant to chemotherapy and how that resistance can be reversed. The grant supports translating those mechanistic findings into approaches that could be offered to children undergoing initial leukemia treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children newly diagnosed with B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia—particularly those with obesity—who are beginning induction chemotherapy and can follow a supervised short-term dietary and activity program.
Not a fit: Children without B‑ALL, those with medical conditions that make dietary or activity changes unsafe, or those unable to participate in supervised lifestyle changes are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve early chemotherapy response and reduce relapse risk, potentially improving survival for children with B‑ALL, especially those with obesity at diagnosis.
How similar studies have performed: A recent Phase I trial provided proof-of-principle and showed a roughly 71% reduction in end-of-induction minimal residual disease with CFGR, so the approach has promising early clinical evidence but needs further testing.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ORGEL, ETAN — CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: ORGEL, ETAN
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.