BACKGROUND AND CHALLENGES

Lung cancer is the No.1 killer among all types of cancer in the United States. It was estimated that lung cancer accounted for about 15% of all new cancer cases in 2008, but caused nearly 30% of all cancer deaths. Over the past three decades, little improvement has been achieved in extending lung cancer patients' lives. In 1975-1979, 35% of people survived one year or longer after initial diagnosis; 25 years later (2000-2003), this number had only improved to 41%.

But there is hope. NFCR funds outstanding cancer researchers who are committed to finding more effective strategies for preventing, diagnosing and treating lung cancer. Through their dedicated efforts to build risk prediction models, develop chemopreventive agents, design cutting-edge devices for monitoring drug response, and seek new strategies to overcome tumor drug resistance, NFCR scientists are leading the battle against the deadliest cancer.

Building risk prediction models for smoking-related lung cancer
NFCR Fellow Waun Ki Hong, M.D., M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Hong's team has long been studying the role of smoking on lung cancer development. Their research in this area has provided insights into why only a subgroup of smokers are prone to have their DNA damaged by smoking and consequently develop lung cancer. By building risk models to predict the development of smoking-related lung cancer, Dr. Hong hopes that those who are deemed to be at high risk could take proactive measures early on that might prevent or delay lung cancer development.

Dr. Hong's team has also initiated clinical research on curcumin and celecoxib to determine their potential in lung cancer chemoprevention (using drugs to prevent cancer). Curcumin is a natural Indian curry spice, and celecoxib is an anti-infl ammatory drug used for the treatment of arthritis. Dr. Hong's research on these two agents may confirm their usefulness in cancer chemoprevention.

Developing new drugs to effectively prevent lung cancer
NFCR Project Director Michael Sporn, M.D., Dartmouth Medical School

A leading scientist in the field of cancer chemoprevention and treatment, Dr. Sporn and his team of researchers have synthesized a new class of anti-cancer drugs, synthetic triterpenoids, which demonstrate powerful preventative and treatment effects against lung cancer, in particular in lung cancer cells bearing a mutation in the Kras protein. With NFCR funding, Dr. Sporn continues to explore the molecular mechanisms of synthetic triterpenoids. These novel agents may soon be evaluated in clinical trials to confirm their ability to protect people from lung cancer.

Simple blood testing for real-time monitoring of lung cancer
NFCR Project Director Daniel A. Haber, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

The team designed a new cutting-edge microchip-based device called the CTC-chip, which can detect even a minute number of cancer cells that have entered the blood stream from their originating organs such as the lungs. By running a spoonful of blood through the business-card-size CTC-chip, these difficult-to-detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be trapped onto the chip and isolated. Dr. Haber's research has shown that a lowering in the amount of CTCs in the blood correlates well with treatment effectiveness. Moreover, CTC-chip technology allows continuous monitoring of tumor cells' genetic makeup, which could change during treatment.

According to a clinical trial involving patients with non-small cell lung cancer, new genetic mutations can appear within 3 to 4 months following initial treatment, causing tumor resistance to the current therapy. Continuous tracking of such genetic changes in individual patients is essential for doctors to make timely treatment adjustments, but it would be almost unthinkable as a treatment modality if this had to be done through repeated, painful, and invasive tumor biopsy. The CTC-chip offers a very practical alternative through non-invasive blood testing, which is almost as accurate as tumor biopsy (92% effectiveness). Dr. Haber is currently optimizing the CTC-chip for large scale clinical application, and his breakthrough technology may soon reach patients' bedsides, changing the face of clinical cancer care.

NEXT STEPS:  HOW YOU CAN HELP

These research projects hold great promise for yielding more effective therapies for lung cancer. With more funding, however, they could ramp up their efforts and accelerate progress to save more lives! When you donate to NFCR, your dollars help our scientists accomplish many important research goals aimed at developing better cancer treatment and prevention strategies. Click here to make a donation.