# Core Support for Cancer Center

> **NIH NIH P30** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $250,747

## Abstract

Cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers are causally associated with high Ⱥ-HPV, particularly HPV16. The risks of these cancers are increased several-fold in persons living with HIV (PLWH) despite the widespread use of cART, and these risks increase further with diminishing CD4 count. Recently, a prospective nested case-control study by our research group (JAMA Oncol, 2016) found that not only HPV16 - but also certain ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV types - were strongly (independently) associated with incident head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). The odds ratios (ORs) ranged from OR=2.5 to OR=7.4 depending on the ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV type. Moreover, while HPV16 was only associated with tumors of the oropharynx, the ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV were prospectively associated with the incident development of tumors of the larynx, hypopharynx, oral cavity, as well as the oropharynx. In fact, ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV had a highly significant, independent association with oropharyngeal tumors even in those who tested positive for HPV16. ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV have known associations with skin cancer (SC) in patients with epidermodysplasia veruciformis, and are increasingly thought to play a role SC in general. SC incidence is highly elevated in PLWH and transplant patients (relative to the general population), consistent with an infectious cause. However, the role of ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV in cancer is thought to be distinct from that of HR Į-HPV. While HR Į-HPV are a necessary cause of cervical precancer/cancer, it is likely that ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV are more akin to a carcinogen. Whereas HR Į-HPV are found integrated or episomal in tumor cells, ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV are transient and cannot reliably be detected in tumors. Nonetheless, ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV are common, including in the oral cavity, cervicovaginal and anal specimens, and ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV prevalence increases with HIV and low CD4. To our knowledge, however, there have been no longitudinal studies to understand the natural history of cervical ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV in HIV[+] or HIV[-] women. More importantly, there have been no prospective studies of ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV and subsequent cervical pre-cancer/cancer. Prospective/longitudial studies are essential since, as mentioned, ȕ-/Ȗ HPV are transient and the virus may not be concurrent with cervical disease. We therefore propose studying ȕ-/Ȗ-HPV natural history and it’s relation with cervical precancer/cancer in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Few if any other cohorts have the needed long-term follow-up with q6mo gynecological exams, Pap testing and colposcopy/biopsy (when indicated).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10293862
- **Project number:** 3P30CA013330-49S2
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD CHU
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $250,747
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1997-06-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10293862

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10293862, Core Support for Cancer Center (3P30CA013330-49S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10293862. Licensed CC0.

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