Adenocarcinoma

 The most common subtype of NSCLC

Chromosome 7q copy number and lung adenocarcinoma invasion

Targeted Therapeutics Research Award
National Lung Cancer Partnership/LUNGevity Foundation Research Grant
May-Lin Wilgus, MD
Columbia University Medical Center
New York
NY

A region in chromosome 7 has more copies than normal in patients with adenocarcinomas. Dr. Wilgus is determining whether these extra copies contribute to the development of lung cancer and how it can be targeted to lessen its effects.

Blood Tests for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer

Early Detection Research Award
Protect Your Lungs/ LUNGevity Foundation Research Grant; funded in part by A Breath of Hope Foundation
Samir Hanash, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle
WA
Gary Goodman, MD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle
WA
Christopher Li, MD, PhD
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle
WA

Never-smokers with lung cancer represent 15% of all lung cancer patients. However, never-smokers do not undergo computed tomography (CT) for screening. Dr. Samir Hanash and his team are identifying biomarkers in the blood of low-risk people. Their ultimate aim is to develop a blood test to screen never-smokers.

Folate-related biomarkers as predictors of response to pemetrexed therapy

Targeted Therapeutics Research Award
Alexander Steven Whitehead, DPhil
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
PA

Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug commonly used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The drug blocks two proteins called DHFR and TS that cancer cells need to grow. Not all patients respond to pemetrexed. Dr. Alexander Whitehead is studying how changes in the DHFR and TS genes predict response of non-small cell lung cancer patients to pemetrexed.

Identifying Tumor Genomic Changes in Lung Cancers

Targeted Therapeutics Research Award
This grant was funded in part by Upstage Lung Cancer
Rebecca Heist, MD, MPH
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
MA
Anthony Iafrate, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
MA
William Pao, MD, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Nashville
TN

Targeted therapies have shown great promise. However, up to 40% of patients with lung cancer do not test positive for a known target. Dr. Rebecca Heist is studying this group of patients and using DNA sequencing technology to identify novel targets for treatment.

Examining LKB1 status as a biomarker for response of lung cancer to metformin

Targeted Therapeutics Research Award
Edward Gabrielson, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore
MD

Metformin is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of diabetes. Dr. Edward Gabrielson and his colleagues have found that a gene called LKB1 is altered in 40% of lung cancer patients. He is studying whether lung cancer cells with mutations in LKB1 are sensitive to metformin. His ultimate goal is to use an already-approved drug for the treatment of LKB1-positive lung cancers.

Biomarkers for personalizing adjuvant therapy in NSCLC – increasing cures

Targeted Therapeutics Research Award
David P. Carbone, MD, PhD
The Ohio State University
Columbus
OH
John Minna, MD
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas
TX
Ignacio Wistuba, MD
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston
TX

Patients with stage I and II lung cancer usually undergo surgery to treat their cancer. Sometimes, the cancer comes back. Using chemotherapy with surgery can prevent the cancer’s return. Dr. Carbone is studying how we can identify which stage I and II patients may benefit from chemotherapy.

A system biology approach to biomarkers for early detection of lung cancer

Early Detection Research Award
This grant was funded in part by Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation
Suzanne Miyamoto, PhD
University of California Davis
Sacramento
CA
Oliver Fiehn, PhD
University of California Davis
Sacramento
CA
Karen Kelly, MD
University of California Davis
Sacramento
CA

Biomarker-based tests that complement CT will make it easier to detect lung cancer early. These tests should also be useful for both high-risk (current and former smokers) and low-risk (never-smokers) populations. Dr. Suzanne Miyamoto and her team are studying different protein, fat, and sugar molecules made by lung cancer cells. These different molecules can also be found in the blood of lung cancer patients. Their ultimate goal is to develop a blood test for the early detection of lung cancer.

Biomarkers to improve clinical assessment of indeterminate lung nodules

Early Detection Research Award
York Miller, MD
University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC
Aurora
CO
Wilbur Franklin, MD
University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC
Aurora
CO
Kavita Garg, MD
University of Colorado Denver, AMC and DC
Aurora
CO

Computed tomography (CT) has a high false-positive rate. Less than 5% of people with nodules found through CT actually have lung cancer. Cells from benign nodules differ from malignant ones in two ways: they have a normal number of chromosomes and they make the same proteins as normal lung cells. Dr. York Miller is taking advantage of these differences. His team is developing a sputum-based test to determine whether a nodule is malignant or benign. The test will help decide whether the nodule requires follow-up.

Autoantibody-based biomarkers to aid in the early diagnosis of lung cancer

Early Detection Research Award
Jeffrey A. Borgia, PhD
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago
IL

Not every nodule detected on a CT scan is malignant. However, an invasive biopsy is often needed to determine this. Dr. Jeffrey Borgia’s team has discovered that malignant and benign nodules produce different types of proteins in the blood. Based on this finding, they are developing a simple blood test to predict which nodules require follow-up.

Antagonism of adenosine A2A receptor to improve lung cancer immunotherapy

Targeted Therapeutics Research Award
Alberto Chiappori, MD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Tampa
FL
Scott Antonia, MD, PhD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Tampa
FL
Cancer cells have found ways to block the body’s own immune system from helping to destroy the tumor. However, newly developed drugs can make the patient’s own immune system more efficient. This team will administer two different immunotherapy drugs to lung cancer patients and determine whether the addition of another drug, PFB-509, can improve the anti-tumor effects and patient outcomes.