Role of Annexin A1 in HTLV-1–related blood cancer progression
Official title: Role of Annexin A1 expression in HTLV-1-mediated pathogenesis.
Funded at East Carolina University · NIH-11384869 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH-funded project looks at how a protein called Annexin A1 may influence the progression of HTLV-1–associated leukemia and how it relates to chemotherapy effects in affected patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Carolina University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greenville, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $186,328 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI187886-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384869 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HTLV-1–related ATLL or related T-cell leukemias could potentially benefit from discoveries arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without HTLV-1–related ATL or without the specific molecular targets studied may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant studies how the HTLV-1 virus may drive adult T-cell leukemia by altering Annexin A1 levels in T cells. The team explores how viral proteins Tax and HBZ suppress ANXA1 and how that suppression could affect cancer development and response to treatment. By focusing on the interaction between viral infection, gene expression, and immune signaling, the work aims to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to improve therapies. The project uses human cell models to understand these molecular changes and their implications for immunogenic cell death during chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new angles to enhance immune responses against HTLV-1–driven leukemia and inform better treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown links between viral regulation of host genes and cancer development, supporting the potential value of this approach, though the exact ANXA1 pathway in HTLV-1 ATL is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
East Carolina University
Greenville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lemasson, Isabelle Michele — East Carolina University
- Study coordinator: Lemasson, Isabelle Michele
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.