# Characterization of the clinical epidemiology of lung cancer and relationship to HIV-1 infection in Uganda and Tanzania

> **NIH NIH U54** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $122,577

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – Project 1
The innovation of our research proposal focuses on three main areas: 1) primary prevention; 2) screening; and
3) personalized medicine. Currently, several studies in the US and Africa have demonstrated that HIV-1 infection
increases the risk of lifetime cancer risk, particularly lung cancer. The etiology of lung cancer among HIV-1
infected individuals is unknown, but of great importance given the number of individuals who live infected with
HIV-1. Here we will investigate potential risk factors for lung cancer such as geospatial residence, indoor and
outdoor air quality, and smoking behavior to better understand the underlying risk factors. This general
knowledge will serve to develop primary prevention programs designed to reduce adverse exposures thus
lowering the onset of lung cancer disease. Beyond primary prevention, our proposal will assess clinical features
associated with lung cancer risk and progression among those infected by HIV-1. This will provide the opportunity
to develop screening programs based on HIV-1 infection status thus detecting disease at an earlier phase and
decreasing the overall mortality. For example, TB may present as lung nodules during chest x-rays and patients
who actually have lung cancer have a delay in the diagnosis of lung cancer and life-saving treatments.
Understanding this relationship will better enable physicians and health providers to provide comprehensive
screening. Lastly, our proposal will expand the concept of personalized medicine by providing a descriptive
analysis of somatic genomic mutations among lung cancer cases infected with HIV-1. This will provide the basis
to examine for differences and provide optimal care under current guidelines.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10478908
- **Project number:** 5U54CA254566-03
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Simon Kasasa
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $122,577
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-21 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10478908

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10478908, Characterization of the clinical epidemiology of lung cancer and relationship to HIV-1 infection in Uganda and Tanzania (5U54CA254566-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10478908. Licensed CC0.

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