2012 UALC
Alice Shaw, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Research Project:
Targeted Therapy Approaches to Lung Cancers Harboring ROS1 Gene Rearrangements
Summary:
Dr. Shaw’s research is focused on improving treatment for a newly-identified subset of non-small cell lung cancer patients with tumors harboring ROS1 gene rearrangements, found in approximately 15,000 people worldwide per year, most likely young, never smokers with adenocarcinoma. Preliminary data shows 60% of these patients respond to the approved targeted therapy, crizotinib, a targeted ALK inhibitor that also has some activity against ROS1. However, as with all targeted therapies, patients eventually become resistant to treatment. Dr. Shaw will investigate the mechanisms underlying resistance with the goal of developing new therapies for ROS1-positive patients that will provide long lasting and meaningful benefit.