2015 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Annual Grant Program
Tuomas Tammela, MD, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Project:
Modification of lung cancers toward a more drug-responsive state
Summary:
The considerable variability within tissue
microenvironments as well as the multiclonality of cancers leads to intratumoral
heterogeneity. This increases the probability of cellular states that promote
resistance to therapy and eventually lead to reconstitution of the tumor by
treatment-resistant cancer cells, which in some cases have properties of normal
tissue stem cells. Dr. Tammela’s work has uncovered a subpopulation of lung
cancer cells that have such stem cell properties. His work focuses on
understanding the biology of these cells, which may translate into novel
treatment strategies for lung cancer patients.