New therapy approach for SMARCA4 (BRG1)–mutant lung cancer
Project 2
The team is exploring whether drugs that block the ATR DNA-repair pathway, alone or combined with other treatments, can better help people with SMARCA4 (BRG1)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190807 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on lung cancers that carry SMARCA4 (BRG1) mutations, a common and aggressive subgroup that currently lacks targeted treatments. Researchers will study why BRG1-deficient tumors show DNA replication stress and use lab models and tumor samples to test ATR inhibitors and drug combinations that exploit that weakness. The work builds on preclinical findings suggesting BRG1 loss sensitizes tumors to ATR pathway blockade and will search for combinations that improve tumor killing. Promising combinations will be prioritized to support future patient trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have SMARCA4 (BRG1) mutations identified by genomic testing, especially those with advanced or treatment-resistant disease.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not carry SMARCA4 (BRG1) mutations are unlikely to receive direct benefit from the specific approaches studied here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new targeted drug combinations that improve outcomes for patients with SMARCA4-mutant non-small cell lung cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies, including work from the study team, have shown BRG1-deficient models are more sensitive to ATR inhibition, but clinical testing of these combinations in patients is still limited.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barbie, David a — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Barbie, David a
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.