HGF/c-MET Pathway in AIDS-Related Lymphoma
Abstract
Viruses are the most common cause of lymphoma in patients with immune dysfunction, and virus-associated lymphomas incur a high mortality for these patients due to a lack of effective therapeutic strategies. Studies in this proposal are designed to elucidate mechanisms for regulation of associated lymphoma pathogenesis by the oncogenic protein HGF/c-MET and whether targeting HGF/c-MET reduces virus-associated lymphoma progression in vivo. As a junior faculty, the applicant s research interest and career goal is to identify key factors contributed to AIDS-related lymphoma pathogenesis and progression and to develop novel therapeutic approaches for selective targeting of these malignancies. These contents belong to "Blood Cancers," one of the Fiscal Year 2014 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Topic Areas. To reach this goal, the PRCRP Career Development Award will be a great opportunity for helping the Principal Investigator (PI) obtain more data and develop more new projects for seeking extramural funding, through paying the salary of PI/lab personnel and lab supplies. We anticipate that the completion of the proposed studies will provide the framework for the development and implementation of clinical trials for evaluating strategies targeting HGF/c-MET for the treatment of lymphoma in HIV-infected patients, including military personnel in Louisiana who are disproportionately affected by this disease. Our ultimate aim is to augment the treatment effects on those with AIDS-related lymphoma and to prolong these patients survival time and improve their life quality. Therefore, if we can get promising results from our animal model study, we will collaborate with Dr. Chris Parsons (the mentor of this scholar application) and other clinical PIs at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) HIV Outpatient Clinic to develop clinical trials by using c-MET selective inhibitors and/or other therapeutic molecules for patients with AIDS-associated lymphoma within LSUHSC-affiliated hospitals and our local Veterans Affairs hospitals. The published data have indicated that military duty service personnel, especially those who served overseas areas such as Africa, may have high risk factors for exposure to HIV/Kaposi s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection and potentials to develop AIDS-related malignancies, during or after their mission period. In fact, these viruses can be spread to their family members or other people through exchange of oropharyngeal secretions (KSHV), sexual activities (HIV), drug abuse (HIV), organ transplantation (KSHV), or other unknown pathways. Therefore, we think the achievement from the proposed studies will benefit not only active duty military Service members, but their families, the U.S. Veteran population, military, and other publics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510282
Entities
People
- Zhiqiang Qin
Organizations
- LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans
- United States Army