New treatments for Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma in people with HIV
Official title: Targeted Therapies for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoma
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11124104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 1, 2011 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $400,139 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA163217-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma or lymphoma would likely not receive direct benefit from this specific research.
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.
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 gone: 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
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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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeted therapies for HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma
A patient-focused look at new targets and drug combinations to treat Kaposi sarcoma and AIDS-related lymphomas in people living with HIV.
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New ways to screen and predict outcomes for HIV-related cancers in Malawi and South Africa
This study is working to find better ways to detect and understand cancers linked to HIV, like Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer, and lymphoma, in Malawi and South Africa, so that people living with HIV can get the help they need more effectively.
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Precision 3D Imaging to Monitor Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) with SkinScan3D
A new portable 3D imaging tool called SkinScan3D will help doctors measure KS skin lesions more accurately and quickly, especially in people living with HIV.
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Precision 3D Imaging to Track Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) with SkinScan3D
A new 3D imaging tool called SkinScan3D helps doctors monitor Kaposi sarcoma lesions more accurately and quickly, especially in settings with high KS burden like East Africa and in U.S. clinics with HIV patients.
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Kaposi Sarcoma care and research in Africa during ART era
A collaborative program to better understand and improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Kaposi sarcoma for people living with HIV in Zambia and Tanzania.
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Kaposi Sarcoma in Africa: ART Era Research Network
A collaborative program in Africa and the United States will study Kaposi sarcoma in people living with HIV on ART to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
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.