# Targeted Therapies for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoma

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $400,103

## Abstract

Project Summary Abstract
People infected with HIV can expect a near normal life on antiretroviral therapy. In the United States, cancer
has become the leading cause of death in the aging HIV-positive population. This includes the AIDS-defining
cancers Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and lymphomas, such as primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). Globally, KS is the
leading cause of death in the HIV-positive population today. Furthermore, as the HIV-positive cohort ages they
are at an increasing risk of developing KS, which is age dependent even in HIV-negative KSHV-carriers.
We, and others, have shown that KS and AIDS-associated lymphomas are highly dependent on the
PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway for survival. We previously reported that mTORC1 inhibition with rapamycin
was efficacious in mouse models of KS and PEL and that rapamycin exhibited a direct anti-tumor effect
independent of immune modulation. This led to a successful clinical trial and first line use of rapamycin-
derivates in HIV+ and HIV- transplant KS.
In this application, we propose to investigate additional targets that impinge on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in
KSHV-associated cancers, as a model of HIV-associated cancers that are critically dependent on this pathway
for their survival. We also propose to utilize CRISPR screens, novel compounds, and innovative combination
strategies to delineate the molecular mechanism of different therapeutic targets. These investigations will
uncover the next generation of therapies against KS and lymphoma in the context of HIV infection. Importantly,
we propose to mostly evaluate drugs that currently are in human phase I safety trials or have passed phase I
safety trials. Thus, the advances made with the studies proposed in this application will be immediately
available for use in clinical trials for HIV-associated KS and lymphomas.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10868764
- **Project number:** 5R01CA163217-13
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** BLOSSOM A DAMANIA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $400,103
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10868764

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10868764, Targeted Therapies for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoma (5R01CA163217-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10868764. Licensed CC0.

---

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