2016 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Annual Grant Program
Benjamin Lok, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Research Project:
Understanding small cell lung cancer drug sensitivity to a targeted drug (PARP inhibitors) and therapeutic radiation by genetic screens
Summary:
A new targeted therapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) known as PARP inhibitors excitingly has provided a potential new treatment option for SCLC patients. Understanding who would or would not respond to this new therapy would be important to maximize the potential benefit to patients. We will tackle this problem with genetic screens using new technology know as CRISPR-Cas9 that allows for precise modification of all genes in a cancer cell line. We will use this technology to identify which genes lead to response or resistance to PARP inhibitor therapy that in turn may lead to other new approaches to increase our ability to treat our patients. In addition, therapeutic radiation is used in many SCLC patients and benefits many patients. Understanding what genes influence response to radiation would be important through this same genetic screening technology. We hope to use findings from this project to improve our ability to treat and cure more patients afflicted by this disease.