# Rapid Point of Care Detection of HPV-Associated Malignancies

> **NIH NIH UH3** · ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS · 2021 · $823,353

## Abstract

Project Summary. Despite the development of effective human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, it has been
estimated that there will be over 200,000 new cases and over 100,000 deaths due to cervical cancer by 2020
in India, which has 25% of the global burden of cases. Cervical cancer screening by Pap smears and HPV
DNA testing has become standard of care in the US and Europe, but has been too expensive and logistically
challenging in low and middle income countries (LMICs). A simple, point-of-care (POC) biomarker panel for
high-grade dysplasia and cervical cancer could provide a cost-effective means for triage of cervical disease in
these countries. HPV infection induces systemic humoral immune responses with IgG antibodies to HPV-
derived proteins. We have previously identified antibodies to a panel of five HPV antigens that detect up to
88% of patients with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer, but less than 4% of healthy controls. Using an expanded
panel of 16 HPV antigens, we have detected at least one HPV antibody in the sera of 45% of CIN II/III cervical
dysplasia. These results support the development of a rapid, quantitative, and multiplexed assay for the
detection of HPV-related cervical disease. We leverage our protein microarray technology with advances in
fluorescent technologies to enable a fluorescent, programmable, multiplexed ELISA (serologic) assay for HPV-
specific IgG antibodies in a compact and disposable configuration with high analytic sensitivity and rapid,
quantitative output. Our preliminary work in this area has demonstrated detection of IgG antibodies to HPV
antigens with lower limits of detection in the 10pg/mL range, which is a 100-fold improvement over existing
colorimetric approaches. Under our proposed effort, we aim to develop and demonstrate a prototype
multiplexed fluorescent programmable point-of-care assay with high analytical sensitivity for the simultaneous
detection of 16 individual HPV-specific IgG serologic biomarkers from a single finger stick-sized patient blood
sample which can be manufactured for a total reagent cost of less than $1/patient sample. We will leverage our
expertise in immunoassay development with expertise in microfluidics, electrical engineering, optics, biomarker
analytical and clinical validation to target the device and assays for the LMIC clinical setting. We will also
provide a clinical platform and biorepository to rapidly evaluate emerging technologies for cervical screening.
This proposal will adapt the engineering and biochemistry for the development of robust POC devices for
detection of HPV serology specifically for low and middle-income countries. We will transfer and evaluate this
technology, screening 13,000 patients in India, with a team of collaborators in the All India Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246794
- **Project number:** 5UH3CA211415-05
- **Recipient organization:** ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Karen Sue Anderson
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $823,353
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-12 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246794

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246794, Rapid Point of Care Detection of HPV-Associated Malignancies (5UH3CA211415-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246794. Licensed CC0.

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