Previously Funded Research

Matthew Niederst, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Research Project:

A new drug combination strategy to more effectively treat EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer

Summary:

Targeted therapies in lung cancer are limited by the development of acquired resistance. This resistance is often mediated by secondary mutations that prevent the drugs from suppressing their target. Studies have shown that treating with different classes of inhibitors in succession can lead to multiple responses, however resistance driven by new mutations can still emerge. The goal of Dr. Niederst’s project is to determine whether combining multiple inhibitors from the beginning of treatment will prevent the development of resistance mutations and prolong the patient response.