Understanding how lung cancer adapts during treatment with targeted therapies

Mechanisms driving lung cancer evolution during targeted kinase inhibitor treatment

NIH-funded research Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10814918

This study is looking at how lung cancer cells change and become resistant to certain treatments, with the goal of finding new ways to help patients avoid or delay this resistance.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-10814918 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how lung cancer cells evolve and develop resistance to targeted therapies that inhibit specific oncogenic kinases, such as EGFR and ALK. By studying the genomic changes in cancer cells that survive initial treatment, the researchers aim to identify mechanisms that contribute to drug resistance. The project utilizes both biochemical and computational methods to analyze the role of a specific enzyme, APOBEC3A, in promoting mutations that lead to treatment failure. Patients may benefit from insights that could inform new treatment strategies to prevent or delay resistance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are lung cancer patients with tumors harboring specific genetic alterations who are undergoing treatment with targeted kinase inhibitors.

Not a fit: Patients with lung cancer who do not have the relevant genetic alterations or who are not receiving targeted therapies may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment strategies for lung cancer patients, potentially improving their survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer can lead to significant advancements in treatment approaches, indicating that this area of study has potential for impactful findings.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cancersneoplasm/cancerNSCLC - Non-Small Cell Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.