Understanding how the penile cancer microbiome and p16 relate to HPV and outcomes across diverse patients
Official title: Unraveling the Interplay: Microbiome, p16 Expression, High-Risk HPV Infection, and Clinical Outcomes in Penile Cancer Across Diverse Patient Cohorts with Varied Mortality and Incidence Profiles
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11302466 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will look at how the tiny microbes living in penile tumors, p16 protein levels, high-risk HPV, and clinical outcomes are connected across patients from different regions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $427,249 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA299578-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11302466 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with penile squamous cell carcinoma from diverse geographic backgrounds, including high-incidence populations like Puerto Rico.
✕Less likely to help
People without penile cancer or those not contributing tumor samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze 350 primary penile cancer tumors from diverse geographic groups to see how microbiome and DNA methylation relate to disease prevalence and outcomes. They will examine 16S sequencing data alongside p16 status and HR-HPV infection to understand why concordance between p16 and HPV may differ in high-incidence populations. The study aims to identify biological factors behind the Puerto Rico-US disparity and how these factors influence prognosis. Findings could inform more accurate pathology reporting and potential personalized approaches for PSCC patients. The work involves tumor samples, molecular profiling, and bioinformatic analysis over a two-year period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could improve understanding of PSCC biology, enhance biomarker interpretation, and guide more tailored management for patients in high-incidence populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show associations between HPV, p16, and cancer biology, but concordance issues in high-incidence groups are still being explored, making this study novel in its specific population focus.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Millward, Niki Zacharias — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Millward, Niki Zacharias
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.