2016 Lung Cancer Research Foundation Annual Grant Program
Wen Xue, PhD
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Research Project:
Treating KRAS-mutant lung cancer by inhibiting the NF-kB pathway
Summary:
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than 30% of NSCLC patients carry mutations in the KRAS oncogene. Yet, there are no effective KRAS inhibitors in the clinic. Dr. Xue and his team aim to investigate inhibitors of the NF-kB pathway as a new targeted therapy for KRAS-mutant lung cancer. First, they will identify mechanisms of drug resistance to NF-κB inhibitors using genetic screens. Second, they will determine the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of NF-κB and MEK inhibitors in a mouse model of lung cancer. These studies will allow the team to devise a new approach in exploring NF-κB as an Achilles’ heel in KRAS-mutant lung cancer, and develop combinatorial treatment for these patients. |
