Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
Official title: Biomarker Approach to Screening for the early detection of HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer (BASH OPC)
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11365061 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A non-invasive oral gargle test is being developed to detect HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer at early stages, helping people at risk catch cancer sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $707,563 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DE033329-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365061 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk with or without known HPV16 exposure, particularly those in populations studied at the participating cancer centers.
✕Less likely to help
The test may not benefit individuals with cancers outside the oropharyngeal region or those whose cancer has advanced beyond early stages where the biomarker panel is informative.
What this research studies
This project aims to turn an easy oral gargle into a reliable early-detection tool for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer. It builds on previous work that identified a biomarker panel in gargle samples and improves its accuracy with methylation markers and HPV16 status. Researchers will use existing biorepositories and cancer-center infrastructure to validate the test in real-world samples. If successful, the test could become a non-invasive screening option that detects cancer earlier when treatment is more effective. The effort will progress through clinical assay development and validation to support potential future clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from a simple, non-invasive test that detects OPC early when outcomes are better.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies showed the biomarker panel could differentiate early OPC from controls with high accuracy (AUC ~0.94).
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Giuliano, Anna R. — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Giuliano, Anna R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered predictor for chemoradiation response in Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer
A new AI-based tool will help doctors tailor chemoradiation for Veterans with oropharyngeal cancer by predicting how each patient will respond to treatment.
-
OPC Survivor: Optimizing Long-Term Health After Oropharyngeal Cancer
This program studies how to improve long-term health and quality of life for adults treated for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
-
Optimizing HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer treatment by selecting patients and reducing therapy intensity
This grant explores whether we can choose the right patients with HPV-positive throat cancer for less intensive, less toxic treatment while maintaining excellent outcomes.
-
Biological factors behind different outcomes in HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer
This project looks at why some people with HPV-positive throat cancer have better or worse survival, by studying tumor biology in a large Cleveland patient group.
-
Understanding how oral high-risk HPV progresses in people with HIV to prevent oropharyngeal cancer
This study follows HIV patients at high risk for HPV-related throat cancer to understand how oral HPV infections start and change over time, with the goal of catching precancer early.
-
Understanding HIV and HPV-linked throat cancer with single-cell analysis and new mouse models
This grant explores how HIV and HPV together affect immune cells in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, using single-cell sequencing and innovative mouse models to guide better prevention and treatment.
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.