Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) infection and immunity
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterization of human CD4 T-cell subsets that mediate regression of HIV-associated Kaposi Sarcoma
IRAS ID
207814
Contact name
Mark Bower
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St Stephen's AIDS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research has shown that the immune system can recognise some cancer cells, but it's rarely independently capable of killing and eradicating these cells. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a type of cancer that can be successfully destroyed by a healthy immune system. KS is caused by a herpesvirus (KSHV) and occurs more commonly in people with a suppressed immunity including people with HIV and organ transplant recipients taking immunosuppressive medications; KS can be treated and eliminated in most patients by reversing the underlying causes of immunosuppression. HIV treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and reduction of immunosuppression in organ transplant recipients helps restore a particular type of immune cells, called CD4-T ‘helper’, which may promote KS resolution and long-term remission. However, the precise mechanisms governing this interaction remain unknown. We aim to elucidate the CD4-T cells function in patients with restored immune systems and how they control KS. We will achieve this by taking HIV patients’ blood and tumour skin biopsy samples before, during and after KS remission mediated by ART over a one-year period at the National Centre for HIV Malignancy at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The samples will be processed in the laboratory where we will isolate cells from the blood and the tumour to check the changes in cell numbers and function during treatment. We will use various techniques to investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive the interaction between CD4-T cells and KS. The scope of our research will be relevant to patient care: firstly, because a proportion of people with HIV who develop KS do not experience remission even with ART, secondly, the immune responses identified in this study may prove informative for the design of a vaccine and immune-based therapy for treatment and prevention of KS.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1097
Date of REC Opinion
15 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion