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Peter Hammerman, MD, PhD
Clinical Fellow, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Squamous cell lung cancer makes up about 25% of lung cancer cases, and previous studies have shown that changes in two genes, DDR2 and FGFR1, occur in about 20-25% of these tumors. Dr. Hammerman hopes to establish whether these genetic changes are important in the development of squamous lung cancer, and if so, whether drugs targeted to these genes will lead to tumor shrinkage. Eventually, Dr. Hammerman hopes to make DDR2 and FGFR1 inhibitors available in clinical trials. |
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Puneeth Iyengar, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center
During cancer development, our bodies are in a constant state of inflammation that may drive tumor progression and inherent resistance to one of the main-stays in lung cancer treatment: radiation therapy. Dr. Iyengar is interested in identifying how proteins involved in the inflammatory process help lung cancer cells survive and how blocking the action of these proteins may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. It is hoped that this knowledge will ultimately improve survival for lung cancer patients.
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James Kim, MD, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University
K-ras is a protein that is frequently mutated in lung cancers. In tumors, mutant K-ras can lead to the activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway in the surrounding non-cancerous cells (also called stroma). The Hh pathway may be involved in causing stromal cells to promote the growth of cancer cells. This project seeks to understand the role of the Hh pathway in tumor growth, identify new factors that may be important for cancer growth, and test drug combinations that attack both the cancer cells and the surrounding stromal cells. The ultimate goal of Dr. Kim’s research is to identify new targeted treatments for tumors with an activated K-ras mutation. |
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Celine Mascaux, MD, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Colorado-Denver
By further understanding the early steps of lung cancer development, Dr. Mascaux hopes to identify biomarkers for early detection and potentially find new targets for lung cancer prevention and treatment. In this international multicenter study, Dr. Mascaux will analyze selected biomarkers and demonstrate whether they can be used for early detection of lung cancer. Her ultimate aim is to develop a cost-effective, non-invasive screening test for lung cancer that could be made widely available.
Dr. Mascaux's research is supported by the Louisiana Lung Cancer Partnership through the Louisiana Hope Research Grant.
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Claire Simpson, PhD
Visiting Fellow, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health
The risk of developing lung cancer differs between individuals depending in part upon the genes they carry and their exposure to cancer-causing chemicals and agents. Genetic variation of a region on chromosome 6 appears to result in a greater risk of developing lung cancer regardless of a person’s smoking history. By determining the sequence of DNA in the region, Dr. Simpson may be able to find the specific mutations responsible for this increased risk. In addition, Dr. Simpson will continue to look for genes in other regions of the genome that may also affect lung cancer risk. Identification of gene markers indicating higher risk of lung cancer may ultimately improve early detection of the disease.
Dr. Simpson's research is supported by the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership. |
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Sunil Singhal, MD
Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Cancer cells are able to continue to grow and divide, in part, because they suppress the normal action of immune cells and escape recognition as “enemies” by the immune system. Researchers have been searching for ways to make a person’s own immune system recognize cancer cells and subsequently eliminate them. Dr. Singhal’s goal is to discover and characterize the network of factors created by human lung tumors that suppress recognition by the immune system. Ultimately, Dr. Singhal hopes this research will lead to methods to target these immune-suppressing factors and make current therapies more effective. |
