TN
Targeting Drug Tolerant States + DNA Damage to Block Osimertinib Resistance
Despite high tumor response rates, patients treated with EGFR targeted therapies, such as osimertinib, inevitably develop disease progression. Mechanisms of drug resistance remain incompletely understood on both a genomic and proteomic level. The objective of Dr. Lovly’s project is to find new targeted treatments and drug combinations that can tackle cancer evolution and osimertinib resistance.
Signaling Heterogeneity in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Chemotherapy has been the mainstay for treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)—a highly aggressive subtype of lung cancer—for the past three decades. SCLC responds well to initial treatment but inevitably comes back. No targeted therapy is currently available for patients with SCLC. Dr. Lehman is studying how SCLC becomes resistant to chemotherapy. His research will further our understanding of chemotherapy resistance and identify novel targets for SCLC treatment.
Targeting Gamma-Secretase and the Notch Pathway in Lung Cancer
Dr. Dang is studying the anti-tumor effect of gamma-secretases inhibitors, compounds that inhibit activation of the Notch pathway that is active in lung cancer cells. She is studying its effect both alone and in combination with traditional chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
Estrogen enhances the carcinogenic effects of the nicotine derivative NNK
NNK is a powerful nicotine-derived carcinogen. Dr. Schuller is determining the exact role of estrogen in tumors caused by NNK. This understanding will provide new targets for the early diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of lung cancer in women.
Dissecting the role of negative feedback inhibition in ALK+ lung cancer
A subset of lung cancer patients have mutations in a gene called ALK. Dr. Lovly will identify new molecular targets that can be blocked in combination with ALK inhibitors to overcome the resistance that often develops after successful treatment and to promote better responses.
Developing new non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of lung cancer
Dr. Hassanein is using 164 proteins found only in lung cancer patients to develop a method to test the patient’s blood for its own antibodies to these proteins. His goal is to use these proteins as biomarkers in a blood test that will find lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage.