PROSPECT - Profiling of Resistance Patterns & Oncogenic Signaling Pathways in Evaluation of Cancers of the Thorax and Therapeutic Target Identification

PROSPECT - Profiling of Resistance Patterns & Oncogenic Signaling Pathways in Evaluation of Cancers of the Thorax and Therapeutic Target Identification

In this Project, we will use therapeutic target -focused (TTF) profiling, genome-wide mRNA profiling and assessments of tumor phosphopeptides and DNA that are shed into the blood stream to define how various molecular factors alone and in combination relate to resistance to therapy, to prognosis, and to metastatic patterns at relapse. We will examine how the presence of factors that drive cell growth, antagonize apoptosis, or confer resistance in other ways may counter the effect of systemic therapies and/or promote rapid tumor recurrence. In this way, we will identify new, previously unappreciated potential therapeutic targets while also identifying which targets are most likely to increase resistance to therapy and worsen prognosis.

Objectives:

1. To develop a therapeutic target -focused (TTF) profiling platform and to use it in vitro to identify potential therapeutic targets associated with therapeutic resistance and to develop novel approaches against these potential targets.
2. To use tumor tissue TTF profiling along with genome wide mRNA profiling, serum phosphopeptide profiling and plasma DNA profiling to identify and evaluate molecular targets and pathways that contribute to therapeutic sensitivity or resistance, prognosis, and recurrence patterns in patients with operable non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

Inclusion Criteria:

Eligible patients should be ones who have stage I-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and undergo surgical resection with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy as part of standard treatment, and have a information of demographics, smoking history, preoperative clinical data, and follow -up data including adjuvant therapy, relapse, and treatment at relapse.

We will include the three major NSCLC histologic subtypes, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma -

Exclusion Criteria: None