Stopping the small lung cancer cells that survive targeted drugs
Project 3
Testing ways to kill the tiny group of 'drug-tolerant' cells that remain after targeted therapy in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer driven by mutations like EGFR, ALK, or BRAF.
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-11190816 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on the few tumor cells that survive effective targeted therapies and later cause the cancer to come back. Researchers will study patient tumor biopsies and lab models to find the biological changes that create these drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells. They will look for molecular targets and drugs that can selectively kill DTP cells before clinical resistance appears. The work aims to create the scientific foundation for future treatments or trials you could join to prolong benefit from targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have targetable mutations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, RET, MET, NTRK, or HER2), especially those starting or receiving genotype-directed targeted therapy or able to provide tumor biopsy samples.
Not a fit: Patients without those targetable mutations, with early-stage disease not treated by genotype-directed drugs, or those unwilling/unable to provide tumor samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could delay or prevent treatment relapse by eliminating the cells that give rise to drug resistance, helping targeted therapies work longer and potentially improving survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have identified drug-tolerant persister cells and some candidate ways to target them, but there are currently no established clinical treatments, making this an emerging and largely preclinical area.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Janne, Pasi a — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Janne, Pasi 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.