Cancer Center Support Grant

NIH RePORTER · NIH · P30 · $249,907 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a human malignancy associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). KS continue to be the most common HIV-associated cancer world-wide. KS lesions are characterized by proliferating endothelial-derived spindle cells, leaky blood vessels, and inflammatory infiltrating leukocytes. Within these lesions, inflammatory leukocytes secret cytokines and growth factors that KSHV-infected cells rely on for growth and survival. KSHVinfected endothelial cells promote the infiltration of inflammatory cells by modulating the expression of adhesion factors on its surface. We have found that KSHV infection induces the expression of novel endothelial adhesion factors and increases leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration. We propose to determine the mechanism by which KSHV induces leukocyte adhesion and transendothelial migration and validate the biology of this process using tissue specimens from the AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR). Our proposal will also identify new targets for therapies against KS in HIV-infection individuals.

Key facts

NIH application ID
10455154
Project number
3P30CA016086-45S2
Recipient
UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
Principal Investigator
H. Shelton Earp
Activity code
P30
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
$249,907
Award type
3
Project period
1997-06-01 → 2025-11-30