# Plasma and saliva biomarkers of disease status in HPV related oropharynx cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2023 · $260,710

## Abstract

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) related oropharynx cancer (HPVOPC) is increasing in the US and now
exceeds the incidence of cervical cancer. Patients with recurrent HPVOPC have an improved survival when
compared to HPV negative OPC patients, and a majority of these patients have an opportunity for durable
disease control. In general, these data imply that effective early detection of recurrent disease in HPVOPC
patients offers an opportunity to effectively salvage patients with recurrent/metastatic disease.
Recent studies have indicated that HPV16 DNA in plasma or salivary rinses may be used as a marker for
disease in HPVOPC, and that there may adequate lead time between detection and recurrence to clinically
intervene in patients with HPV16 DNA in saliva and/or plasma. Accordingly, we have developed a novel,
genomic based saliva/plasma test for HPV16 DNA in a CLIA certified clinical laboratory. The overall
hypothesis of this proposal is that validation of a HPV16 DNA assay in plasma/salivary rinse as a biomarker for
high risk HPVOPC in a prospective trial will provide independent prognostic data, facilitate treatment
stratification for patients at high risk of recurrence, and provide lead-time to detection of recurrence that will
allow for earlier detection and treatment. This will identify a high-risk cohort of patients with HPVOPC for
whom prognosis can be improved with intensified surveillance and treatment.
We anticipate that rigorous evaluation of the potential of HPV16 DNA in plasma and saliva in HPVOPC
patients will establish the value of this biomarker in identification of patients at high risk for recurrence and can
be rapidly translated to clinical usage.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10690548
- **Project number:** 5R01CA243393-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph A Califano
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $260,710
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-08 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10690548

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10690548, Plasma and saliva biomarkers of disease status in HPV related oropharynx cancer (5R01CA243393-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10690548. Licensed CC0.

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