2011 UALC
Eric Haura, MD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Research Project:
Activity-Based Kinome Profiling in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Summary:
Small cell lung cancer is the 6th leading cause of cancer in the U.S. and despite years of effort, there have been few gains through the use of novel chemotherapy or targeted agents. Dr. Haura is using advanced technology (mass spectrometry) to screen for active kinases (proteins) from SCLC cell lines and tumors. This information will help identify new proteins and pathways that drive SCLC and thus identify new targets for therapy. In addition, Dr. Haura will correlate these findings with results from drug screens to determine if any biomarkers can be distilled that predict which patients will respond to which drugs.
More Content:
Final Report
Dr. Haura has optimized this screening process, enabling him to perform profiling in 36 cell lines (including SCLC and NSCLC). He is investigating metabolite profiles in 20 SCLC, based on the initial screening data, to better understand how metabolism is regulated in SCLC. Preliminary findings have also identified a potential drug target in SCLC. Future studies using patient-derived xenograph models are planned, and Dr. Haura is in discussions with pharmaceutical companies to use this method to investigate additional targets to develop new therapies.
Notable Accomplishments
Dr. Haura has received over $400,000 in follow-on funding from the NIH to expand his studies on kinome profiling. This pilot study has led to additional projects looking at adaptive resistance in RAS-driven lung cancer, as well as additional funding for his collaborators to expand use of this technique.