# Fighting breast cancer with metabolic therapy

> **NIH NIH P20** · LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR · 2020 · $222,000

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Triple negative breast cancer cells have higher glucose uptake and increased lactate production when
compared to estrogen receptor (ER)-expressing cells that have higher mitochondrial respiration. Metabolic
phenotype and differences in fuel utilization of the malignant cells may thus contribute to the variable
responses to ketogenic diet across cancer types. With focus on the tumor as the primary target, our
overarching hypothesis is: A ketogenic diet will slow disease progression more effectively in breast cancers
that are predominantly glycolytic when compared to breast cancers with high rates of mitochondrial respiration.
We have designed three complementary experimental strategies to investigate the implications of this
hypothesis in a syngeneic mouse breast cancer model. In Aim 1, we will metabolically phenotype two triple
negative murine mammary tumor cell lines (C0321 – claudin-low and B5725 – basal-like) and two murine ER-
expressing cell lines (TC4 and TC2). In Aim 2, FVB/N mice will receive isografts consisting either of a tumor
cell line with glycolytic phenotype or tumor cells with high rate of mitochondrial respiration. Tumor growth and
progression under conditions of a ketogenic diet will be compared to chow-feeding within and between
metabolic phenotypes. Two experiments will be performed: Experiment 1 will evaluate the effect of diet on
tumor growth after a tumor has been established. In Experiment 2, the mice will consume ketogenic diet before
tumor cell transplantation, allowing assessment of the diet's effect on tumor establishment and metastasis. In
Aim 3, Using Stable-Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we will track the metabolic fate of labeled fatty
acid (13C8-octanoate) in the grafted tumor cells as well as the recipients. We will ascertain tumor metabolic
phenotype in vivo, and measure mitochondrial density in tumors and in host liver to define fuel utilization and
the extent of host and tumor metabolic adaption to a ketogenic diet. This project takes advantage of the unique
resources at Pennington Biomedical Research Center to advance my ability to translate basic science
research findings into clinical trials.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9854387
- **Project number:** 1P20GM135002-01
- **Recipient organization:** LSU PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Linda Anne Gilmore
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $222,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9854387

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9854387, Fighting breast cancer with metabolic therapy (1P20GM135002-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9854387. Licensed CC0.

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