HPV genetic patterns that influence how cervical cancer responds to radiation and reveal early recurrence
Official title: HPV genomic structure in cervical cancer radiation response and recurrence detection
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11321714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at HPV genetic patterns in people with locally advanced cervical cancer to find markers that predict how they will respond to chemoradiation and to detect recurrence earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $501,912 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA279596-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321714 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with locally advanced cervical cancer who are HPV-positive and have tumor tissue available before chemoradiation would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with very early-stage cervical cancer treated only with surgery, HPV-negative tumors, or without available tumor tissue or follow-up imaging are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will sequence HPV genomes from tumor samples to identify structural features such as HPV-human gene fusions and alternative splicing events. They will link these HPV genomic patterns to patient outcomes after standard chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer. After treatment, the team will use FDG-PET/CT imaging at 3–6 months and compare imaging with HPV-based markers to spot early recurrence. The goal is to create a sequencing-based clinical test that flags patients at high risk of treatment failure before therapy and detects recurrence sooner.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify patients unlikely to respond to standard chemoradiation and catch recurrent disease earlier so treatment can start sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large efforts using human gene profiles did not predict outcomes, but early research and the investigators' preliminary data indicate that HPV-focused genomic markers may be a promising novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Jin — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Jin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating how HPV genomic features affect cervical cancer treatment response and recurrence.
This study is looking at how certain features of the HPV virus can help doctors understand how well treatment works for women with advanced cervical cancer, so they can better predict who might need extra support during their care.
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A research effort will look at why keloids come back after surgery, especially in African American patients, using comprehensive molecular data from patient samples.
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Community and digital tools to reduce HPV and cervical cancer burden
A nurse or health team will test a community-based, digital strategy to help girls and young women, especially in rural areas, get HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention services.
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A community- and digital-technology program aims to help girls and young women, including those with HIV, get more HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention services.
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mSaada: a mobile tool to boost cervical cancer screening in western Kenya
A mobile app helps community health volunteers manage cervical cancer screening tasks and follow-up for women in low-resource areas.
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Globally useful predictor for cervical cancer treatment response
This project aims to develop a simple predictive signature to personalize treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer using easy tests and imaging.
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.