Understanding how lung cancer changes to resist targeted therapy
Official title: Elucidating mechanisms underlying lung cancer lineage plasticity thatfacilitate adaptation and resistance to targeted therapy
Funded at Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp · NIH-11390505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying why a common lung cancer drug stops working and how to block those changes to help patients keep benefiting from treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buffalo, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $719,951 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA305978-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma who are receiving or have received EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on transcriptional plasticity or do not progress on EGFR inhibitors may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at advanced EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma and how cancer cells change their gene activity to survive EGFR inhibitor therapy. Scientists will study transcriptional plasticity—the dynamic changes in which genes are turned on or off—believed to drive resistance. By identifying and blocking these transcriptional shifts, the work aims to improve how long patients respond to treatment. The study uses human cancer biology insights, experimental models, and clinical samples to uncover actionable targets that could inform new combination therapies or treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches that delay or overcome resistance to EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer, extending patient benefit from therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that transcriptional adaptations can accompany drug resistance, with some approaches translating into potential therapeutic strategies, but much remains exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
Buffalo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goodrich, David W. — Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corp
- Study coordinator: Goodrich, David W.
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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.