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Diet, Lipid Metabolism, and Tumor Growth and Progression (DLT) Program

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The Diet, Lipid Metabolism, and Tumor Growth and Progression (DLT) Program is investigating mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth/progression. This initiative also supports the development of new tools and models in an emerging area of research at the intersection of nutrition and molecular metabolism.

The Program aligns with the 2020 – 2030 Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research, which “emphasizes cross-cutting, innovative opportunities to advance nutrition research across a wide range of areas":

  • Goal 1: Spur Discovery and Innovation through Foundational Research
  • Goal 4: Reduce the Burden of Disease in Clinical Settings

Investigators of the DLT Program are supporting progress towards these goals through fundamental studies of the role of diet and lipid metabolism in cancer and by identifying nutrition-related molecular interactions with tumor biology that could, ultimately, be leveraged to improve clinical cancer care. 

DLT News

Research Advances from the DLT Program

DLT discoveries are advancing our understanding of how diet and lipid metabolism interact with tumor biology, which could ultimately be leveraged to improve cancer prevention and treatment.

New grants for the DLT Program were awarded in Fall 2026.

Drs. Caterina Bartolacci and Cristina Andreani are examining how dietary fatty acids affect KRAS-driven tumor metabolism and vulnerability to ferroptosis (i.e., iron-induced cell death).

Dr. Houjian Cai et al. with the University of Georgia DLT Project are studying how dietary fatty acid metabolism regulates treatment resistance in prostate cancer. 

Dr. Bing Li et al. with the University of Iowa DLT Project are investigating the role of FABP5 in linking high fat diet-induced obesity to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression.

Dr. Kamiya Mehla et al. with the University of Oklahoma DLT project are studying how high-fat diet regulates granulocyte metabolism and function in pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Manolis Roulis et al with the University of Pennsylvania DLT Project are determining if the composition of fatty acids in the diet affects the composition of bioactive lipids in the intestine and the development of colon cancer. 

Contacts for DLT 

For additional information about the DLT Program, please contact Dr. Wanping Xu or Dr. Natalia Mercer.  

Funded Projects

DLT Research Projects (U01s)

InstitutionPrincipal Investigator(s)Project Title
Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteNika N. Danial, Mariella G. FilbinMechanism and functional consequences of dietary lipids in lineage specification and tumor growth in oncohistone gliomas
Salk Institute for Biological StudiesSusan M. KaechUnderstanding omega-3 and 6 fatty acid dependent regulation of inflammatory signals in pancreatic cancer
University of CincinnatiCaterina Bartolacci, Cristina AndreaniExploiting lipid metabolism and dietary interventions to sensitize KRAS-driven tumors to ferroptosis
University of Colorado DenverPaul S. MacLean, Peter Kabos, Carol A. SartoriusNew FADS diet for endocrine resistant breast cancer
University of GeorgiaHoujian CaiMetabolism of dietary fatty acids promotes castration resistance in prostate cancer
University of IowaBing LiDetermining the role of FABP5 in linking high fat diet-induced obesity to triple negative breast cancer progression
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterKamiya MehlaHigh-fat diet regulates granulocyte metabolism and function in pancreatic cancer
University of South FloridaTim Yeatman, Ganesh HaladeInterrogating the role of arachidonic acid metabolism in modulating the tumor immune microenvironment as a novel path to therapeutic intervention
Van Andel Research InstituteEvan C. LienDiet-mediated regulation of fatty acid saturation impacts cancer progression and therapy responses
Van Andel Research InstituteRussell JonesDietary regulation of anti-tumor immunity through caloric restriction

DLT Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (UH2)

InstitutionPrincipal Investigator(s)Project Title
University of California, Los AngelesHeather Christofk, Guido Eibl, Katherine PlathImpact of dietary lipids on pancreas cancer initiation and progression
University of PennsylvaniaManolis RoulisDietary tuning of the function of fibroblasts as regulators of colon cancer development
University of UtahAmandine Chaix, Greg Ducker, Keren HilgendorfDietary lipids as drivers and therapeutic targets in obesity-accelerated breast cancer
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