# Disparities in breast cancer risk by HIV status: An exploration of sociodemographic differences between women with and without HIV and potential viral mechanisms for breast cancer risk reduction

> **NIH NIH F31** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $28,865

## Abstract

7. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Specific aims: There are three aims for the proposed research: 1a) To describe the cumulative incidence of
breast cancer in women with antiretroviral treated HIV in 2000-2017, stratified by calendar time (2000-2005,
2006-2011, 2012-2017); 1b) To estimate the risk of breast cancer in women with antiretroviral treated HIV
comparing women with high versus low viral load in 2007-2017 by sociodemographic factors; 2) To estimate
differences in estrogen (estradiol) in pre and perimenopausal women with versus without HIV, and by HIV viral
load among women with HIV (WHIV); 3) To determine the association between circulating estradiol and the
risk of postmenopausal breast cancer in women with and without HIV.
Significance: These three aims will provide novel evidence on the etiology of breast cancer, and whether HIV
could play a role in cancer development. If sociodemographic differences between women with and without
HIV contribute substantially to the reduced risk of breast cancer in WHIV, then the incidence of breast cancer
will likely rise in WHIV, which has important implications for the clinical management of HIV in women. If HIV
infection appears to contribute to this reduced risk, this research will generate hypotheses regarding the role of
HIV and immune function in breast cancer etiology and potential novel mechanisms for cancer therapy.
Approach: Data sources include two large, prospective cohort studies, capturing validated cancer diagnoses
and relevant covariates. For Aim 1a and 1b, we will use the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on
Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) to characterize the cumulative incidence of breast cancer and its
association with viral load in WHIV. The study population for Aims 2 and 3 will be the Women’s Interagency
HIV Study (WIHS). For Aim 2, pre and perimenopausal women with pre-existing estradiol measurements will
be utilized to assess the relationship between HIV status and estradiol, and among WHIV, the relationship
between HIV viral load and estradiol. For Aim 3, a nested case-control study among postmenopausal women
in the WIHS will be conducted to evaluate the relationship between HIV and estradiol on breast cancer risk.
Fellowship training: Sally Coburn is a PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health. The proposed research encompasses her dissertation research, which will
be conducted in collaboration with the selected sponsor and three mentors offering distinct content expertise.
This research is nested within a larger, comprehensive training program including coursework as well as
opportunities for teaching and professional development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10131020
- **Project number:** 5F31CA247610-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sally Behan Coburn
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $28,865
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10131020

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10131020, Disparities in breast cancer risk by HIV status: An exploration of sociodemographic differences between women with and without HIV and potential viral mechanisms for breast cancer risk reduction (5F31CA247610-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10131020. Licensed CC0.

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