Cytomegalovirus Reactivation in Ovarian Cancer
Abstract
Rationale and Objective: There is a pressing need to identify new biomarkers that can be used to tailor treatment and improve outcomes in ovarian cancer. There is considerable variability in patient symptoms during ovarian cancer treatment, and severe symptoms negatively impact adherence to treatment, which in turn may impact patient outcome. One path to effect change is to identify the factors that are associated with patient symptoms so that effective interventions can be designed. This proposal is motivated by the novel hypothesis that a common herpes virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), is an unexplored complicating factor in the treatment of ovarian cancer. CMV is a latent infection that can re-emerge during periods of immune suppression, for example, during chemotherapy. CMV also increases inflammation, a well-established biomarker of poor patient outcome. In this Pilot Award, we will measure CMV in blood at the time of diagnosis, CMV in tumor, CMV in blood during chemotherapy treatment, inflammation, patient-reported symptoms and adherence to the treatment plan. Our objective is to determine whether this very common virus re-emerges from latency during ovarian cancer and negatively impacts ovarian cancer treatment. The Critical Problem: Fatigue, pain, nausea, and vomiting are common among ovarian cancer patients undergoing treatment and can negatively impact the ability of patients to adhere to treatment plans. There is a need to identify new ways to improve adherence to treatment that will lead to better patient outcomes. How This Research Advances Our Understanding: There is great inter-patient variability in symptoms during treatment, and the proposed work will help us understand whether the common herpes virus, CMV, contributes to this variability. In addition, our study will clarify whether CMV is present in the tumor environment. Understanding this question will inform future studies regarding ovarian cancer and immune-based therapies. Relevance to Mission: Over 50% of the U.S. population is infected with CMV; therefore, understanding the role of CMV in ovarian cancer has the potential to impact a large proportion of patients. By fully characterizing CMV reactivation in ovarian cancer, we will be positioned to conduct a randomized trial of viral therapy designed to improve patient symptoms, reduce inflammatory burden, improve adherence to treatment, and increase patient survival. The timeline to translate our findings to clinical trials and oncology practice is rapid, as there are existing antiviral medications available for the treatment of CMV infection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 16, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910014
Entities
People
- Heather H. Nelson
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Minnesota