Finding new reasons why lung cancer treatments stop working
Non-genomic resistance mechanisms in EGFR-mutant lung cancer
This project looks for new reasons why a common lung cancer medicine, osimertinib, might stop working for patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093977 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Osimertinib is a standard treatment for EGFR-mutant lung cancer, but it does not cure everyone. When the medicine stops working, doctors often look for genetic changes in the cancer, but many cases of resistance remain unexplained. This research believes that other, non-genetic factors are causing the medicine to fail. We are trying to find these hidden reasons, both within the tumor cells and in their surrounding environment. We will use a new blood test to find these resistance patterns in patients whose cancer has returned after treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer whose disease has progressed after treatment with osimertinib would be the focus of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of lung cancer or those who have not received osimertinib may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for patients whose EGFR-mutant lung cancer has become resistant to osimertinib.
How similar studies have performed: While genomic resistance mechanisms have been studied, this project focuses on novel non-genomic mechanisms, making its approach relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hata, Aaron N — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hata, Aaron N
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.