Understanding how HIV and HPV infections affect oropharyngeal cancer development
Official title: Dissecting Tumor-Immune Interactions in HIV-HPV Co-Infection-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer using Single Cell Sequencing and Novel Mouse Models
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11093567 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how HIV affects the immune system in people with HPV-related throat cancer, hoping to find new ways to help patients fight the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $578,249 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291607-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093567 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who are also living with HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have oropharyngeal cancer or are not infected with HIV may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between HIV and HPV infections in the development of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). By utilizing advanced single-cell sequencing techniques and novel mouse models, the study aims to explore how HIV influences the immune response, particularly focusing on CD8+ T cells, in the context of HPV-positive OPSCC. The research will analyze the immune cell landscape and the exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, which could lead to new insights into prevention and treatment strategies for affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for patients with oropharyngeal cancer associated with HIV and HPV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding tumor-immune interactions in cancer, but this specific investigation into HIV-HPV co-infection in OPSCC is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yin, Shanye — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Yin, Shanye
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This study follows HIV patients at high risk for HPV-related throat cancer to understand how oral HPV infections start and change over time, with the goal of catching precancer early.
-
Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
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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.