# Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated Cancers in Nigeria

> **NIH NIH U54** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $787,015

## Abstract

Project Summary
Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated Cancers in Nigeria is a proposal from U.S. and Nigerian
scientists to establish a consortium for research on two high priority HIV-associated cancers in Nigeria:
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cervical cancer. The consortium will also support the enhancement of
research capacity in Nigeria, a low strata middle-income sub-Saharan country with the second highest burden
of HIV infection in the world. The theme of this proposal is to conduct molecular epidemiologic research to
understand the epigenetic determinants of these deadly cancers. The premise for our proposal is that cancer
epigenetics and infections are inextricably linked, yet significantly understudied in countries like Nigeria which
have a high burden of HIV, HCC and cervical cancer. HIV and its adverse effects on the immune system promote
transmission and reactivation of oncogenic viral co-infections such as hepatitis B and C, and human papilloma
virus (HPV), greatly increasing the oncogenic potential in HIV-infected individuals. HIV-infected patients may
also experience immune activation from HIV replication and increased exposure to traditional risk factors. All of
these factors affect epigenetic biomarkers such as DNA methylation, which is considered a hallmark of cancer,
and aberrations of DNA methylation in both blood and tissue have linked to increased risk of various cancers.
The consortium will be led by investigators from Northwestern University and Mayo Medical School in the U.S.,
with partners University of Lagos and University of Jos in Nigeria. The consortium proposes to perform two
Research Projects which will identify DNA methylation signatures specific to HIV-associated HCC (Project 1)
and cervical cancer (Project 2). Study of epigenomic biomarkers will improve our understanding of the role of
HIV co-infection and offers the main advantage of earlier diagnosis of premalignant and early stage cancers
which may in turn lead to effective strategies for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aims of our consortium
are: 1) identify epigenetic determinants of HIV-associated HCC and cervical caner in Nigeria; 2) examine
whether epigenetic biomarkers are associated with clinical features of HIV-associated HCC and cervical cancer
and whether such biomarkers predict development of for these two cancers; 3) provide training and mentoring
opportunities for Nigerian investigators in conducting molecular epidemiology studies with a focus on epigenetic
biomarkers; and 4) establish two shared core facilities for i) biomedical informatics and statistics, and ii) pathology
and genomics. This cooperative agreement will provide an exceptional opportunity to leverage our existing
expertise and expand that effort at two of the leading medical universities in Nigeria, the most populous country
in Africa with an exceptionally high burden HIV and oncogenic viruses such as HPV and hepatitis B and C. Our
results will provide useful and ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242887
- **Project number:** 5U54CA221205-05
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lifang Hou
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $787,015
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242887

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242887, Epigenomic Biomarkers of HIV-Associated Cancers in Nigeria (5U54CA221205-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242887. Licensed CC0.

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