Identifying a blood marker for nasopharyngeal cancer risk
Official title: Epstein-Barr virus EBNA1 IgA as a biomarker in nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk prediction
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11131208 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for a specific antibody in blood that could tell us who might be at higher risk for developing nasopharyngeal cancer, especially in certain communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $238,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DE033551-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11131208 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related studies might include adults from Southeast Asian and immigrant Chinese communities, especially those with a history of Epstein-Barr virus infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer or those not at high risk for the disease may not directly benefit from this specific risk prediction method.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding a way to predict the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a type of cancer that is much more common in Southeast Asian and immigrant Chinese communities. We are exploring a specific antibody related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), called EBNA1 IgA, which often increases in the blood several years before NPC appears. By examining blood samples from individuals who later developed NPC, we aim to confirm if this antibody can serve as an early warning sign. This discovery could help identify people who would benefit most from early screening and closer monitoring for this cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to improved early detection programs for nasopharyngeal cancer, allowing high-risk individuals to receive timely screening and intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that EBV antibodies rise before NPC onset, and IgA serology is a known indicator for aberrant EBV infection at mucosal sites, suggesting a foundation for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shair, Kathy — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Shair, Kathy
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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.