written by Sarah L. Minor

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) rates are rising among people living with HIV, and Bansal is determined to find out why by exploring how chronic HIV infection influences appears to drive development of cancer caused by human papillomavirus infection, despite antiretroviral treatment.

Anju Bansal, Ph.D., an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, has received an NIH R01 grant to fund a study on oropharyngeal cancer in people living with HIV (PWH). The research aims to uncover why rates of HPV-associated OPC are higher among PWH, despite treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The study will focus on how chronic inflammation from ongoing HIV infection impacts the development of HPV-driven OPC. The research has three main objectives: First, it will identify the types of HPV present in OPC among PWH and assess the extent of T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Second, it will examine how HIV proteins influence HPV’s gene expression and DNA replication, driving the transformation of oropharyngeal epithelial cells. Third, it will determine the mechanisms of CD8 T cell dysfunction in PWH with OPC and explore ways to restore tumor-specific immunity.

Understanding these interactions is critical, as it could lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies for HPV-associated OPC in this vulnerable population. By employing advanced 3D models, the NIH-funded study aims to clarify how HIV’s proteins contribute to HPV pathogenesis and the initiation of OPC, paving the way for more targeted interventions. Bansal’s work promises to shed new light on cancer risks among PWH and offer solutions to better protect this population.

For more details on this transformative study, visit the NIH Reporter to read the full abstract.