How loss of a gene regulator makes small cell lung cancer switch to adenocarcinoma
Project 2 - Epigenetic Drivers of Lineage Plasticity in Lung Cancer
This project looks at whether turning off an epigenetic regulator called EED lets small cell lung cancers change into lung adenocarcinoma, to better understand why some cancers stop responding to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308234 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They will use CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to remove the epigenetic regulator EED in genetically engineered mouse models of small cell lung cancer and in cancer cell lines. In mice, deleting EED caused tumors to convert almost entirely from small cell histology to adenocarcinoma, so the team will study both tumor-intrinsic gene changes and external influences from the tumor immune environment. The researchers will map which genes EED normally represses and how their de-repression drives the lineage switch. Together these approaches aim to explain how lineage plasticity develops and leads to therapy resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with small cell lung cancer or lung adenocarcinoma, especially those whose tumors show signs of changing type, would be most relevant for related future studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients without lung cancer or with unrelated cancer types are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify targets to prevent or reverse cancer-type switching that causes treatment resistance in lung cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies in mice and cell lines have already shown EED loss can trigger small cell to adenocarcinoma transformation, but applying these findings to patient care is still unproven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oser, Matthew Gilbert — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Oser, Matthew Gilbert
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.