# HIV integration-mediated modulation of immune regulation in HPV-associated cancers

> **NIH NIH R01** · SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $1,365,545

## Abstract

   
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cancers attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the most common HIV-associated malignancies around the world; specifically cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and anal cancer among long- term survivors in the United States. The mechanisms responsible for these increased odds are not completely understood. In contrast to other HIV-associated malignancies, the incidence of cervical cancer is not entirely related to the depth of CD4+ T-cell count nadir, suggesting that a mechanism in addition to inadequate CD4+ "help" predisposes HIV-infected individuals to cervical and other HPV-associated cancers. Our group and others made the important observation that HIV integration into certain genes appears to modulate host gene expression to favor proliferation and persistence of infected T-cells. Emerging data show that HIV integration can skew the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T-cells into T regulatory cells, providing further mechanistic insights to the immunopathology of persistent HIV infection. The aforementioned observations combined with the recognized role of T regulatory cells in cervical cancer led to our overarching hypothesis that HIV integration into host genes that modulate T regulatory cells are integral to the development of cervical cancer in HIV- infected individuals through alterations of tumor-based immunity. To evaluate this hypothesis, we will utilize a well established collaboration with the Uganda Cancer Institute to define HIV integration into genes associated with T regulatory cell function in HPV-infected cervical tissues. We will enroll HIV-infected and -uninfected Ugandan women with a positive cervical cancer screening test (visual inspection with acetic acid), and identify those with high-risk HPV infections for study. In the first Aim, we will compar HIV integration sites, density of T regulatory cells with HIV proviruses and expression of checkpoint molecules in the cervical tissue of women who have progressed to pre-cancer/carcinoma with HIV-infected women with spontaneous clearance of high- risk HPV infections. Furthermore, the proteome pathways of T regulatory cells and cytotoxic T cells will be compared between HIV-infected women with progression to cervical neoplasia with -uninfected women with high-risk HPV who are likely to clear their HPV. In the second Aim, we will evaluate host gene function of CD4+ T-cells clones with proviruses infiltrating the cervical dysplasia. Specifically, we will characterize the T-cell markers of these cell clones using cells from the clone detected in the peripheral blood. HIV-infected circulating CD4+ T-cells from the clones infiltrating the cervical dysplasia will be expanded from in mini-cultures of single HIV infected cells using a novel technology to comprehensively characterize the HIV provirus and surrounding host genome. Finally, the ability to recapitulate transcriptome and phenotypic changes in naïve CD4+ T-cells by in...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982848
- **Project number:** 5R01CA206466-05
- **Recipient organization:** SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Corey Casper
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,365,545
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982848

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982848, HIV integration-mediated modulation of immune regulation in HPV-associated cancers (5R01CA206466-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982848. Licensed CC0.

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