How biologic aging affects cervical cancer outcomes in women with HIV in Zambia
The Impact of Biologic Aging on Immunity-Related Cervical Cancer Outcome Disparities Among Women Living with HIV in Zambia
This project looks at whether accelerated biological aging tied to HIV changes immune function and treatment results for women with cervical cancer in Zambia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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 ID | NIH-11412344 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect medical information and blood or tumor samples from women with HIV who have cervical cancer and are receiving standard chemoradiation. They will measure biological age using DNA methylation "epigenetic clocks" and test immune markers in the samples. These measures will be compared with treatment side effects, tumor response, and survival to see if faster biological aging links to worse outcomes. The work takes place at clinics in Zambia and aims to find markers that could help guide care for women in similar settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women living with HIV in Zambia who have locally advanced cervical cancer and are planned to receive chemoradiation therapy.
Not a fit: Women without HIV, those with very early-stage cervical cancer treated without chemoradiation, or people outside the study region are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help identify women at higher risk of poor treatment response or toxicity so care and follow-up can be better personalized.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown HIV is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging, but applying these aging measures to predict cervical cancer chemoradiation outcomes is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Lilie Leming — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lin, Lilie Leming
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.