How alcohol affects Kaposi’s sarcoma virus and related cancers
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11160715
This project looks at whether drinking alcohol makes Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus more active in people who carry the virus.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11160715 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you carry KSHV (the virus that causes Kaposi’s sarcoma and some other cancers), this work looks at how alcohol and its breakdown products change the virus inside your cells. The team will examine chemical changes to the viral genome (epigenetic marks) and test whether alcohol increases the virus coming out of latency in infected cells and samples. They will also measure whether alcohol boosts release of extracellular vesicles that can carry viral RNAs and proteins to other cells and help the virus spread. The research aims to connect drinking with higher circulating virus levels and identify steps that could be targeted to lower cancer risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people known to carry KSHV—including people living with HIV who are at higher risk—and those with a history of alcohol consumption who can provide samples or clinical data.
Not a fit: People who do not carry KSHV or who have no history of alcohol exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to clearer advice about alcohol use for people with KSHV and reveal targets for therapies to reduce viral reactivation and KSHV-related cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory data show alcohol and its byproducts can speed KSHV reactivation, but the specific epigenetic and extracellular vesicle mechanisms in humans are relatively new and not yet proven clinically.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WILLIAMS, KEVIN PETER — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: WILLIAMS, KEVIN PETER
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 below.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus