This federal Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.395 - Cancer Treatment Research) provides $188,169 to the University of California, Davis to conduct proof-of-concept studies on a gene therapy vector using the adeno-associated virus (AAV) system for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-related malignancies. The research aims to selectively express therapeutic genes in KSHV-infected tumor cells by leveraging the interaction between the KSHV terminal repeat and the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) protein. The proposed approach uses the thymidine kinase (TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) system as an indirect gene therapy, with potential enhancement through combination therapy with FDA-approved drugs like histone deacetylase inhibitors. The grant award period runs from March 10, 2025 to February 28, 2027.
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