New medicines for lung cancers caused by KRAS or BRAF changes
Official title: Targeting the ERK Pathway in RAS - and BRAF-Driven Lung Cancers
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11265093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing new medicines that block ERK/RAF signaling in people with lung cancer driven by KRAS or BRAF mutations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2007 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $348,983 |
| NIH project number | 2P01CA129243-16A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11265093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with advanced or metastatic lung cancer whose tumors have KRAS mutations or BRAF mutations (particularly class 2 or 3, or tumors resistant to prior RAF inhibitors) are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose lung cancers lack KRAS or BRAF mutations, or those who are not eligible for early-phase trials due to medical reasons or inability to travel, are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project focuses on lung tumors caused by KRAS or BRAF genetic changes that hijack the ERK pathway. Researchers are studying drugs that block RAF dimers, including a pan-RAF inhibitor and a "dimer breaker," and are looking at how these drugs affect tumor cells and patients. They plan to test combination treatments to overcome resistance that develops with current RAF-targeted therapies. Eligible patients may be offered these experimental treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering as part of early-phase clinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide new effective treatment options for lung cancers with KRAS- or BRAF-driven ERK activation, especially tumors that no longer respond to current RAF inhibitors.
How similar studies have gone: Related drugs (pan-RAF inhibitors and dimer disrupters) have shown clinical activity in early-phase trials, but durable responses and resistance remain challenges.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosen, Neal — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Rosen, Neal
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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.