Autoantibodies link scleroderma subtypes to cancer
Official title: Autoantibodies define scleroderma subgroups with distinct relationships to cancer
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11197594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at autoantibodies in people with scleroderma to find antibody patterns that signal higher or lower risk of cancer near disease onset.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 9, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $635,462 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR073208-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11197594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), especially those near disease onset or with available autoantibody testing or stored samples, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without scleroderma or those whose care does not include antibody testing or access to the study cohorts are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will test my blood for different scleroderma-related autoantibodies and compare antibody patterns with cancer diagnoses in two well-characterized scleroderma groups. They will use past medical records and stored samples plus new samples to study whether certain antibodies or a broader antibody response appear before cancer shows up. The team will examine how antibody strength and variety relate to timing of cancer and to changes in scleroderma symptoms over time. Findings could help doctors decide who needs closer cancer monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify scleroderma patients at higher risk of cancer so they can get earlier or more targeted cancer screening and monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has already linked certain autoantibodies (for example anti-POLR3 and anti-Ro52) to cancers appearing near scleroderma onset, but many questions about timing and immune breadth remain unanswered.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Ami Aalok — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Shah, Ami Aalok
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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.