# Models of EBV Cancer

> **NIH NIH P01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 2024 · $287,773

## Abstract

CORE C – PROJECT SUMMARY
The Preclinical Models of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Cancer Core provides major resources to the three Program
Project Investigators, including viral mutants and strains, EBV+ and EBV- nasopharyngeal carcinoma and
gastric carcinoma cell lines; human gastric cancer organoid cultures; patient derived xenografts and other in vivo
models of EBV-associated cancers; compound testing; and recombinant viruses. Core C has acquired a large
repository of EBV+ and EBV- epithelial (gastric and nasopharyngeal) and lymphoid cell lines that have been
fingerprinted and are routinely verified by microsatellite/short terminal repeat (STR) testing to exclude cross-
contamination. In collaboration with Dr. Calvin Kuo (Stanford University), gastric cancer organoid cultures that
are now continuously available through Core C at The Wistar Institute. Organoids are superior to standard cell
culture because they recapitulate many features of the organs that they are derived from, including organ
ultrastructure, and mimic the tumor microenvironment. These organoid cultures will provide important tools for
studying viral and cellular determinants of Epstein-Barr virus-associated cancers (Project 1) and for drug
screening (Projects 2 and 3). Importantly, these organoid cultures are genetically tractable and TP53 and
ARID1A knockout organoid cultures are already available in Core C.
In addition to cell culture models, Core C routinely performs studies using several murine models of EBV-
associated cancers. Patient-derived xenografts that are exclusively maintained in vivo are available for all three
Projects. Cell line-derived models of EBV associated gastric carcinoma and NPC have been adapted for
bioluminescent imaging studies. These murine models will be used for compound testing (Projects 1-3) in
collaboration with Core B. Finally, Core C will provide high-titer, recombinant EBV (Projects 1-3) using a
bacterial artificial chromosome system to interrogate the specific contributions of EBV genes to the development
of cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10840331
- **Project number:** 5P01CA269043-02
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Samantha Standish Soldan
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $287,773
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-11 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10840331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10840331, Models of EBV Cancer (5P01CA269043-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10840331. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*