# Prognostic value of quantitative HPV viral load in determining cervical cancer treatment response and recurrence > **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $253,638 ## Abstract ABSTRACT Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with the highest burden in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer includes radiation and concurrent chemotherapy (CRT). However, high rates of relapse and recurrence remain a significant problem, despite recommended treatment, particularly in LMICs. Therefore, identifying patients at high risk for treatment failure and recurrence is a critical initial step in the development of individualized management and follow-up of those patients. The overarching goal of the line of investigation proposed in this application is to allow for individualized treatment of cervical cancer patients in resource-limited settings using risk stratification models. We believe that quantification of the burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection will be a valuable prognostic tool for the individualized management of cervical cancer patients. More precisely, we hypothesize that quantification of the total and subtype-specific burden of HPV will predict treatment response and recurrence of cervical cancer, allowing clinicians to stratify high-risk patients at initial diagnosis and early stages of treatment. Further, quantitative HPV viral load is more accessible and cost-effective than currently recommended approaches for individualized cancer treatment, making it ideal for use in resource-limited settings. In this K08 proposal, Dr. Surbhi Grover, a trained radiation oncologist experienced in studying cervical cancer cohorts in LMICs, will determine the performance of total and subtype-specific HPV viral load as a predictor of treatment response and recurrence in cervical cancer patients treated with CRT in Botswana. Dr. Grover's overall career goal is to became an independent investigator in cervical cancer translational research and clinical trials, and to identify prognostic factors that will guide personalized interventions studied in future clinical trials to improve outcomes of cervical cancer patients in LMICs. With support from the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), she has been based in Botswana for the past three years working with cervical cancer patients. Dr. Grover and her multi-disciplinary team of mentors have developed a training plan that will leverage our ongoing studies in Botswana and enable her to acquire the skills needed to become a leading cervical cancer translational researcher focusing on clinical trials in LMICs. Training in clinical trials in LMICs, advanced biostatistics, and molecular methods of HPV detection and quantification will augment her training in radiation oncology and public health. The proposed study for the K08 grant will be nested in an ongoing University of Botswana and UPenn U54 consortia grant on which Dr. Grover currently plays a major role. During the course of the K08, she will continue to be based in Botswana to implement this study. She will continue to hav... ## Key facts - **NIH application ID:** 9901475 - **Project number:** 5K08CA230170-02 - **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - **Principal Investigator:** Surbhi Grover - **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.) - **Funding institute:** NIH - **Fiscal year:** 2020 - **Award amount:** $253,638 - **Award type:** 5 - **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2024-03-31 ## Primary source NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9901475 ## Citation > US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9901475, Prognostic value of quantitative HPV viral load in determining cervical cancer treatment response and recurrence (5K08CA230170-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9901475. Licensed CC0. --- *[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*