LOS ANGELES — A new study from the University of California - Los Angeles, published on July 8, 2026, suggests that creatine may enhance the immune system's capacity to combat cancer. The study proposes that creatine boosts the activity of dendritic cells, which are immune cells that detect tumors and activate killer T cells.

The findings, detailed in the journal iScience, were based on experiments conducted in mice and human cells. Researchers observed that daily creatine injections in mouse models of melanoma slowed tumor growth and increased the number and activity of dendritic cells that had infiltrated tumors.

Lili Yang, a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics at UCLA, stated that current immunotherapy treatments show promise but are effective for only a subset of patients. "Immunotherapy has shown remarkable promise, but it only works for a subset of patients," Yang said. She added that the study indicates creatine supports not only T cells fighting cancer but also the entire immune infrastructure. "What this study shows is that creatine doesn't just help the T cells fighting cancer -- it also energizes the entire infrastructure supports and guides them."

Yang further noted that creatine represents a supplement to support the immune response required by modern immunotherapies. "That makes creatine a promising supplement to holistically support the immune response that modern immunotherapies depend on." The research team found the gene responsible for producing the creatine transporter was more active in tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells in mice compared to dendritic cells in healthy tissue. Engineered dendritic cells lacking this transporter exhibited reduced survival and were less effective at preparing T cells to attack tumors.

In laboratory settings, creatine supplementation increased intracellular ATP levels in dendritic cells and enhanced the activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Creatine also improved the ability of these human cells to stimulate human T cells against a cancer-associated target. James Elsten-Brown, a graduate student in Yang's lab at UCLA, explained the potential applications. "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."

Elliot Kang, a former undergraduate student researcher in Yang's lab, stated, "Understanding how to metabolically support dendritic cells is about supporting the entire anti-tumor response, not just the killer T cells at the end of it." The experimental approaches described in the study have not been tested in humans, nor have they been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective for human use. The UCLA Technology Development Group has filed a patent application for the potential therapeutic strategy identified. Funding for this research was provided by a UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center Rose Hills Foundation Innovator Grant, the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center Ablon Scholars Program, a Magnolia Council Senior Investigator Grant Award, and a fellowship from the Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

Why It Matters

Current cancer immunotherapies provide meaningful benefits to approximately 20% to 40% of patients. This study explores a potential method to enhance the immune system's general response, which could expand the effectiveness of these treatments. The research was conducted using animal and cell models, indicating that further investigation and human trials would be necessary to determine its applicability and efficacy in people.