R01CA260691

Regulatory Crosstalk Between Human Endogenous Retroviruses, HIV, and EBV in Lymphoma - Project Summary/Abstract

Approximately 8% of the human genome is composed of sequences directly derived from germline infections of diverse retroviruses, which have accumulated over the past ~100 million years of mammalian evolution. None of these human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are known to represent fully functional retroviruses, but most have retained noncoding regulatory sequences that can control expression of cellular genes acting as promoters or enhancers, and some still encode proteins with various functional activities.

While HERV sequences are often ignored as merely inconsequential 'junk' DNA, there is evidence that a subset of these elements play crucial roles in human physiology and disease, including cancer. Our previous work, as well as that of others, have shown that both HIV and EBV infections activate certain HERV families that have oncogenic activities, and our preliminary data reveal an overlap between these elements. Given that diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DBCL) are frequently associated with EBV infection in people living with HIV, we hypothesize that there is a complex intercellular regulatory crosstalk between AIDS-related (AR)-DLBCL, HIV-infected T cells, and the tissue microenvironment, that is in part mediated by a specific subset of HERVs and their derived products that are synergistically activated and promote oncogenesis.

We will study DLBCL obtained from patients with or without EBV (and with or without HIV) from the USA and Brazil, which will be comprehensively characterized pathologically and molecularly using single-cell genomics and spatial transcriptomics. We will analyze these data using computational tools we have tailored to profile and link HERV and gene expression. Furthermore, we will establish in vitro models to dissect with precision the functional impact of HERV on the crosstalk between T cells infected by HIV and B cells with or without EBV. We will also determine if differential HERV expression creates neoantigenic epitopes, a feature that can be exploited for immunotherapy.

This will be accomplished through three specific aims:

1) Characterize and profile HERV regulation and expression within single cells in DLBCL and AR-DLBCL.
2) Establish in vitro models to dissect the interaction between cellular and endogenous and exogenous viruses in AR-DLBCL.
3) Identification of neo-antigenic HERV epitopes in DLBCL and ascertain if cloned HERV specific CTL can lyse lymphoma cells in vitro.

Our team consists of specialists in lymphoma biology and medicine, transposable elements and HERVs, HIV and EBV viral immunology. Together, we will generate understandings of how HERVs contribute to the pathogenesis of AR-DLCBL, and identify new antigenic targets for novel therapies.

The Feinstein Institutes For Medical Research

TO DEVELOP THE MEANS TO CURE AS MANY CANCER PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE AND TO CONTROL THE DISEASE IN THOSE PATIENTS WHO ARE NOT CURED. CANCER TREATMENT RESEARCH INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF IMPROVED METHODS OF CANCER TREATMENT THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND PERFORMANCE OF BOTH FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED LABORATORY AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. RESEARCH IS SUPPORTED IN THE DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT, AND CLINICAL TESTING OF ALL MODES OF THERAPY INCLUDING: SURGERY, RADIOTHERAPY, CHEMOTHERAPY, AND BIOLOGICAL THERAPY INCLUDING MOLECULARLY TARGETED THERAPIES, BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND IN COMBINATION. IN ADDITION, RESEARCH IS CARRIED OUT IN AREAS OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT, STEM CELL AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION, IMAGE GUIDED THERAPIES AND STUDIES TO REDUCE TOXICITY OF CYTOTOXIC THERAPIES, AND OTHER METHODS OF SUPPORTIVE CARE THAT MAY SUPPLEMENT AND ENHANCE PRIMARY TREATMENT. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.395 - Cancer Treatment Research

National Cancer Institute (NCI) [HHS - NIH]

Manhasset, New York 110303816 United States

Single Zip Code

Provocative Questions (PQs) in Cancer with an Underlying HIV Infection (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-CA-19-032)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 378% from $1,200,301 to $5,738,253.