2015 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Annual Grant Program
Donald Kufe, MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Research Project:
Development of new therapeutic agents for non-small cell lung cancer resistant to existing therapies
Summary:
MUC1 is a protein that is expressed at high levels in over 80% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Agents targeting MUC1 are thus sorely needed for the treatment of NSCLC, especially for those tumors resistant to existing therapies. Dr. Kufe and his team have developed two approaches to target MUC1 for NSCLC treatment. The first approach is based on the generation of antibodies against MUC1 on the surface of NSCLC cells. The second approach involves the development of an agent that inhibits the role of MUC1 in promoting the growth and survival of NSCLC cells. These agents are effective against EGFR and KRAS mutant NSCLC cells in preclinical models. Based on those findings, the team’s therapeutic approaches are being advanced for the treatment of patients with NSCLCs refractory to chemotherapy and molecularly targeted drugs.