Finding new ways to treat lung cancer when current medicines stop working
Overcoming Resistance Mechanisms to Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors
This research looks for new ways to treat a specific type of lung cancer, called ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, when patients stop responding to their current medications.
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-11142598 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
For patients with ALK-positive lung cancer, targeted medicines called ALK TKIs work well at first, but over time, the cancer often becomes resistant and starts to grow again. This project aims to understand why these medicines stop working, especially when the resistance isn't due to changes in the ALK gene itself. By identifying these new reasons for resistance, we hope to develop new treatment strategies. Our goal is to find complementary approaches that can help patients whose cancer has become resistant to current ALK TKI therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer who have experienced their disease progressing despite treatment with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Not a fit: Patients whose lung cancer is not ALK-positive or who have not yet received ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors may not directly benefit from this specific research focus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatment options for patients with ALK-positive lung cancer who no longer respond to their current medications, potentially extending their lives and improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have identified some resistance mechanisms to ALK TKIs, leading to the development of newer generations of these drugs, but off-target resistance mechanisms are still poorly understood.
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.