Key takeaway:
- UCLA’s Creatine cancer study found that creatine boosted dendritic cells and strengthened immune responses against tumors in both mice and human cell studies.
- The findings suggest creatine could improve cancer immunotherapy and dendritic cell vaccines, but evidence is limited to preclinical research.
- Researchers stress that human clinical trials are still needed, and cancer patients should consult their doctors before using creatine supplements.
A UCLA Creatine cancer study published this week suggests that the supplement, widely used to boost athletic performance, may also strengthen the immune system’s ability to fight cancer by enhancing key immune cells. Researchers emphasize, however, that human clinical trials are still required to confirm these findings.
Researchers at UCLA reported in the journal iScience that creatine enhances the activity of dendritic cells, which detect tumors and activate killer T cells that attack cancer. The findings come from experiments involving mice and human cells grown in laboratories and do not demonstrate effectiveness in cancer patients.
The study expands on earlier work from the same laboratory showing that creatine improves the function of cancer-fighting T cells. Scientists say the new findings suggest the supplement may support multiple parts of the immune response rather than a single type of immune cell.
Mice and human cell tests show immune gains
The research focused on dendritic cells, which coordinate immune responses by presenting tumor material to T cells. Investigators found that tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells in mice showed increased activity of the gene responsible for producing the creatine transporter, which carries creatine into cells.
When researchers engineered dendritic cells without the transporter, the cells survived less effectively and were less able to activate T cells. Laboratory experiments also showed reduced T-cell growth and weaker production of signaling molecules needed for an effective immune response.
Daily creatine injections in mouse models of melanoma significantly slowed tumor growth while increasing both the number and activity of dendritic cells within tumors. The treated cells also released more signaling molecules that attracted additional immune cells.
Researchers said metabolomic analysis showed creatine increased intracellular ATP, the primary energy source for cells, helping maintain the signaling pathways needed for dendritic cell activation.
Clinical trials needed before patient use
“Immunotherapy has shown remarkable promise, but it only works for a subset of patients,” said Lili Yang, senior author of the study and a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics at UCLA.
“What the Creatine cancer study shows is that creatine doesn’t just help T cells fight cancer. It also energizes the entire infrastructure that supports and guides them,” Yang explained.
Current cancer immunotherapies benefit roughly 20% to 40% of patients, according to the researchers. They believe improving dendritic cell function could increase the number of patients who respond to treatment.
The researchers cautioned that the Creatine cancer study findings should not be interpreted as evidence that creatine supplements improve cancer outcomes in people. They stressed that the work remains preclinical, has not been tested in human patients, and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cancer treatment.
Researchers see potential to improve immunotherapy
The team also found that creatine enhanced activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells used in laboratory research for cancer vaccines and improved their ability to stimulate T cells against cancer-related targets.
“The potential we see here is that creatine could be used in two complementary ways: as a supplement to enhance the immune response of patients already receiving immunotherapy, and as a tool to improve the quality of dendritic cell-based vaccines before they’re administered,” said James Elsten-Brown, a co-first author and graduate student in Yang’s laboratory.
Co-first author Elliot Kang said understanding how to support dendritic cells metabolically could strengthen the body’s overall anti-tumor response.
Researchers said prospective clinical trials will be the next step to determine whether creatine supplementation can improve outcomes for patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. They advised patients undergoing cancer treatment to consult their physicians before taking any supplements.
The study received funding from multiple UCLA-affiliated research programs and foundations. The therapeutic strategy described in the research is also the subject of a patent application filed on behalf of the Regents of the University of California.
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