UCLA researchers link creatine intake to slowed melanoma growth in mice
In vitro and mouse experiments show creatine fuels dendritic cells, boosting immune responses against melanoma tumors.
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that creatine supplementation slowed tumor growth in mouse melanoma models, according to a report by Südtirol News suedtirolnews.it
Südtirol Newssuedtirolnews.itOpen source ↗. The findings, led by Lili Yang, showed that the organic acid increased the accumulation and activity of dendritic cells inside the tumor microenvironment.
Dendritic cells serve as coordinators within the immune system, capturing tumor components and priming cytotoxic T cells to target cancer cells. Because tumors deplete surrounding nutrients, dendritic cells upregulate transport proteins to absorb extracellular creatine. When the research team disabled this specific transporter, the survival, activation, and function of dendritic cells declined, which caused T cells to divide less and generate fewer signaling molecules required for antitumor defense.
Metabolic support for immune cells
The authors described creatine as a molecular battery that stores and releases energy on demand. Supplementation raised intracellular levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in dendritic cells and stabilized vital inflammatory and activation signals. This metabolic boost enabled immune cells to maintain functional capacity despite nutrient competition from rapidly dividing cancer cells.
Daily administration of creatine in melanoma-bearing mice led to higher dendritic cell infiltration and suppressed tumor progression suedtirolnews.it
Südtirol Newssuedtirolnews.itOpen source ↗. The team also tested the compound on cultured human dendritic cells, where creatine enhanced cell activation and improved their ability to stimulate T cells against tumor-associated target molecules.
Implications for immunotherapy
Current cancer immunotherapies typically act directly on cytotoxic T cells, but UCLA noted that only 20 to 40 percent of patients respond adequately to such treatments. Enhancing the dendritic cells that prime these responses addresses an earlier phase of the immune cascade. Creatine could potentially optimize the preparation of dendritic cell vaccines during laboratory production.
The researchers emphasized that these findings in mice and isolated human cells do not constitute a clinical cancer treatment or dietary recommendation. Patients undergoing cancer therapies must consult physicians before taking supplements. The research team plans to organize prospective clinical trials with oncologists to evaluate whether creatine supplementation can improve outcomes for patients receiving immunotherapy.
