# Antiviral treatment as prevention for HBV- and HBV/HIV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

> **NIH NIH U54** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $332,518

## Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very common and lethal cancer in Africa, and as patients with HIV live
longer, the HCC burden may increase. In prior studies, our team identified chronic infection with hepatitis B
and C viruses (HBV, HCV), HIV and Schistosomiasis mansoni as independent risk factors for HCC. Compared
to the US, HCC in sub-Saharan Africa occurs at younger age and more advanced stage with survival of only
months. Proposed is an East and West African partnership between colleagues at Makerere University in
Uganda, Fann University in Senegal and Johns Hopkins University focused on HIV and hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC) in Africa: The H2A Consortium. Building on long-standing collaborative research, mentoring
and clinical activities in both countries, our overarching goal is to reduce the heavy burden of HCC in sub-
Saharan Africa. We advocate investigating cancer interception strategies using appropriate medical treatments
to interrupt or reverse the impact of these HCC-causing infections. Consortium activities are designed to
enhance both the clinical, population and translational research infrastructure and individual African
investigator capacity to conduct high-level, collaborative investigation of HIV, chronic infections and HCC. In
this project, we will form a large, prospective cohort of HBV and HBV/HIV co-infected persons with balanced
recruitment from both Uganda and Senegal. Guideline-appropriate antiviral treatment against HBV will be
initiated and HCC surveillance with ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein performed. Baseline and six-month study
visits will collect questionnaire, clinical, ultrasound, and elastography data. We will define clinical outcomes of
HBV treatment in terms of reduced standard and novel viral biomarkers, stabilization and regression of liver
fibrosis, and reduced incidence of HCC. In parallel, using a novel albumin adductomics approach, we will
investigate changes in oxidative stress pathways and identify novel biomarkers relevant for both HBV and HIV
infections. For each of these analyses, HIV co-infection is evaluated as a key effect modifier. The impact of
these studies will be to inform treatment and screening approaches and potentially identify novel biomarkers
for guiding HBV management and HCC prevention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10084615
- **Project number:** 1U54CA254565-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Gregory D Kirk
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $332,518
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-09 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10084615

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10084615, Antiviral treatment as prevention for HBV- and HBV/HIV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (1U54CA254565-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10084615. Licensed CC0.

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