Investigating how tumor and surrounding cells change during cancer treatment resistance
Official title: Project 2: Delta Stromal Ecology of NSCLC
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-10930172 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cancer cells and their surrounding support cells change when they stop responding to certain treatments for ALK and KRAS mutations, with the goal of finding better combination therapies to help patients stay in remission longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $445,271 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274507-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930172 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have mutations in ALK or KRAS and are undergoing targeted therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of lung cancer or those who do not have ALK or KRAS mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how cancer cells and their surrounding stromal cells evolve when they develop resistance to targeted therapies for ALK and KRAS mutations. By examining these changes over time, the study aims to create detailed models that capture the dynamics of tumor growth and response to treatment. The researchers will use experimental models to analyze how the interaction between tumor and stromal cells affects treatment outcomes, ultimately seeking to identify new combination therapies that can improve patient remission rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer treatments that overcome resistance, improving survival rates for patients with NSCLC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding tumor-stroma interactions in cancer treatment, but this specific approach is novel and aims to fill existing gaps in knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marusyk, Andriy — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Marusyk, Andriy
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ATM kinase as a target to help NSCLC with brain metastases respond to treatment
A study from Yale University tests whether blocking ATM kinase can delay or overcome treatment resistance in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to the brain and other organs.
-
Understanding how cancer-supportive tissue affects resistance to ALK and KRAS therapies
A research team will study how the tumor’s surrounding tissue changes as cancer cells become resistant to ALK and KRAS-targeted treatments, aiming to find better combination strategies for long-lasting remission.
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.