The Study
SLC6A8-mediated creatine uptake suppresses ERK2-FSP1 signaling and induces ferroptosis in colorectal cancer.
This study was done in animals, not people, and we don't know how it was done well enough to trust the results. So we can't say creatine helps fight cancer in humans — it's just a guess based on a lab experiment.
Analysis score
Maximum 58 for a case-control study.
Where the score came from
This study found that creatine, a supplement often used by athletes, can trigger a type of cell death called ferroptosis in colorectal cancer cells by blocking a protein (ERK2) that normally protects cancer cells.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 56 / 100
Quality score
Researchers compare people who have a condition (cases) with similar people who do not (controls), looking back in time for differences in exposure. Useful but more prone to bias.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — if this works in humans, taking creatine might help cancer patients respond better to immunotherapy drugs.
- 2Creatine made tumors smaller, increased immune cells (CD8+ T cells) inside tumors, and helped anti-PD-1 immunotherapy work better in mice.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Cell reports
Year
2025
Authors
Xiaojun Zhou, Genxin Wang, Yuhang Wu, Mingzhi Wu, Xiang Zhai, Chenhui Tian, E. Prochownik, Congqin Jiang, Youjun Li
Related Content
Claims (4)
Creatine supplementation increases T-cell persistence and metabolic fitness in tumor environments, improving the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
Creatine causes colorectal cancer cells to die through a specific biochemical pathway that disables a protein protecting cells from ferroptosis.
Creatine supplementation reduces tumor growth in colorectal cancer models and increases the number of CD8+ T cells within tumors.
In animal models, taking creatine supplements increases the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in reducing colorectal tumor growth.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.