New treatments for Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma in people with HIV
Targeted Therapies for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoma
This project looks for new ways to treat Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma, common cancers in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124104 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding new treatments for Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and lymphomas, which are cancers often seen in people with HIV. We know that these cancers depend on a specific pathway in the body, called PI3K/Akt/mTOR, to grow. Our previous work showed that blocking a part of this pathway with a medicine called rapamycin was effective in mouse models and led to successful clinical trials for KS. This project will explore additional targets within this pathway and use advanced tools like CRISPR and new drug combinations to discover the next generation of therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients living with HIV who have been diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma or certain types of lymphoma may be ideal candidates for future clinical trials stemming from this research.
Not a fit: Patients without HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma or lymphoma would likely not receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma and lymphomas.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work with rapamycin, which targets a similar pathway, has already led to successful clinical trials and its use as a first-line treatment for Kaposi sarcoma.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dittmer, Dirk P — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Dittmer, Dirk P
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.