Studies have shown that 57% of Asian American women diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked. The Female Asian Never Smokers (FANS) study looks at possible causes of lung cancer including secondhand smoke, genetics, and cultural factors. Eligible participants include Asian American females (with and without lung cancer) between the ages of 21-90 who have never smoked and live in the greater San Francisco Bay area.
Scarlett Lin Gomez, PhD, MPH, and Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH are epidemiologists who study disparities through genetics, lifestyle factors, neighborhood characteristics, environment, and income related to cancer risk. Both are professors with the University of California – San Francisco Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, and have served as ad-hoc reviewers for the LCRF Research Grant on Disparities in Lung Cancer.
In the video below, Drs. Gomez and Cheng discuss the general impact of disparities in lung cancer care and specifically, disparities in FANS populations.
To learn more:
DREAM Lab (Disparities Research: Environment And oMics)
A team member’s passing underlines the study’s importance
Dr. Patricia (Trish) Hom, MD, MPH, an integral member of the FANS Study team and Community Advisory Board, died of lung cancer on Dec. 27, 2021 at the age of 40.
Dr. Trish Hom
She shared her story with LCRF a few months before she passed away.
Dr. Hom was a surgical resident when she noticed she had a cough. “My junior resident had a cough too, or she had a cold, so I just brushed it off: ‘I have a cold, too.’ But her cough went away.” As the senior resident, she decided to power through it. “It got worse and worse, but I just was like, oh, I have asthma. I have allergies, whatever.” Although she had learned about lung cancer in medical school, she didn’t relate it to her own symptoms.
Three days after graduating from her OB-GYN residency, Dr. Hom was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). She was 35 years old, never smoked, and had no family history of any type of cancer. In the four years after diagnosis, she suffered three progressions and at multiple times lost all function.
“I really think that we have to find out what risk factors are associated in our Asian American population, especially the women, because nobody knows,” she said. “Even if you have a cough – if you’re like, coughing for six months – you just brush it off because you’re healthy, you’re young.”
“And as a doctor, you know, it could happen to anyone. I had no idea. I’m an OB-GYN. My friends who were in residency didn’t know anything.”
Dr. Hom pointed out that the screening guidelines don’t include people like her. “We have to be made aware that if you have these kind of problems, it could be cognitive problems because of brain mets or shoulder pain from bone mets,” she said. “I think it’s very necessary for data from the FANS study and other studies like it to figure out what people are experiencing that are correlated with their lung cancer diagnosis.”
Read more about Dr. Hom in this profile by Cancer Health.
Eugene Manley, Jr., PhD, LCRF’s Director of Scientific Programs, compiled the following list of FDA drug approvals for lung cancer treatment taking place in 2021. The associated companion diagnostics have been included where applicable. “Companion diagnostics are devices, tests, or imaging tools that provide information essential to the use of the therapeutic product,” Dr. Manley explained. “In general, they are associated with detecting mutations and are necessary for optimally selecting treatment for patients.”
Tepotinib (Tepmetko®; Merck KGaA/EMD Serono) approved for MET exon 14 skipping metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); given orally
Trial: phase 2 VISION
Feb 22
Cemiplimab-rwlc (Libtayo®; Regeneron and Sanofi) approved for advanced NSCLC (locally advanced, not resection candidates or definitive chemoradiation or metastatic), with high PD-L1 expression with no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 aberrations; monoclonal antibody given intravenously
Trial: phase 3 EMPOWER – Lung 1
March 3
Lorlatinib (Lorbrena®; Pfizer) approved for ALK+ metastatic NSCLC not receiving prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease; given orally
Trial: phase 3 study B7461006
Companion diagnostic: Ventana ALK (D5F3) CDx Assay (Ventana Medical Systems)
May 21
Amivantamab-vmjw (Rybrevant®; Janssen Biotech) approved for EGFR exon 20+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC progressing on or after platinum-based chemo; bispecific EGFR and MET antibody given intravenously
Mobocertinib (Exkivity®; Takeda) approved for EGFR exon 20 insertion+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with progression on or after platinum-based chemo; given orally
Trial: phase 1/2 Study 101
Companion diagnostic: Oncomine Dx Target Test (Life Technologies Corporation)
Oct 15
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®; Genentech) approved as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemo for patients with stage II to IIIA NSCLC with PD-L1 > 1% on tumor cells
Trial: phase 3 Impower010
Companion diagnostic: Ventana PD-L1 (SP263 Assay) (Ventana Medical Systems)
Dr. Roy Herbst, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board member, spoke with OncLive recently about the progress made in 2021 in lung cancer treatment. He also noted the need for more research to address acquired resistance.
The latest class of LCRF grant recipients includes several investigators whose projects are aimed at understanding and solving acquired resistance to targeted therapy. LCRF remains committed to funding science that addresses unmet need in lung cancer research, providing hope for people with a lung cancer diagnosis. #Research is our #TrueNorth.
Dr. David Spigel, Chief Scientific Officer for Sarah Cannon Research Institute, was our guest for the December 13, 2021 #TogetherSeparately Lung Cancer Community Talk. Watch the recording below.
An amazing human, accomplished surgeon and humble lung cancer hero.
That’s how Dave Bjork, a lung cancer survivor and The Research Evangelist, described Brendon Stiles, MD, when he nominated Dr. Stiles as a CURE® Lung Cancer Hero.
Every year, CURE presents its readers with an opportunity to nominate an outstanding individual working to end the stigma and make a difference in the lives of those affected by lung cancer. Nominees were highlighted on CURE‘s website as well a downloadable booklet.
Dr. Stiles is Vice Chair of LCRF’s Board of Directors and previously served as chair. He has generously given of his time and talent for over a decade.
“There is something special about him, and you know it when you see it,” Bjork said in his nomination. “Good guy, nice person, smart, brilliant, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, eager to help, generous — all of the qualities that make him an amazing clinician and lung cancer hero.”
Rhonda Martin passed away on January 9, 2023 from complications caused by Stage 4 lung cancer.
By Rhonda Martin | November 2021
I was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2018. Specifically, non-small cell adenocarcinoma, Stage 4, with metastasis to my brain, spine, bone (hip), and lymph nodes.
After my diagnosis, I had whole brain radiation. Then I had one round of immunotherapy while awaiting biopsy results which confirmed EGFR positive mutation. At that point, I was switched to this little magic pill called osimertinib (Tagrisso) that I take daily. In early 2020, I needed another round of radiation; this time to my midhilar lymph node. In July 2021, I doubled my Tagrisso daily dose due to metastasis of active cancer cells in my cerebral spinal fluid – a condition called leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.
My challenges, until very recently, have been very minimal. I responded well to treatment and have not altered anything in my life. I continued to “live my life” by doing all things I love: long walks, hiking, kayaking, baking, and travel.
My husband has been my greatest support from day one. He has attended every single appointment and has taken on house duties when I couldn’t. He constantly ensures my comfort, and his love and encouragement has been unwavering. He simply is my rock and I could not imagine this journey without him.
Besides my husband, my biggest assets on this lung cancer journey have been my faith, my positive attitude, my determination to live, and my incredible family and friends.
My birthday is November 11, so I started a birthday fundraiser for the Lung Cancer Research Foundation through Facebook. November is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month, so when I saw LCRF’s Lunges for Lung Cancer Challenge I decided to be part of that effort as well. I’m proud to have raised over $1,250 for research!
If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, I know from experience how frightened you must be. Your diagnosis isn’t necessarily a death sentence as it was just 15 years ago. Medicine has significantly advanced, and people are living much longer and with fewer complications than ever. Most importantly, stay positive and live your life; don’t let cancer define you.
Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD, thoracic surgeon with City of Hope, accepts the 2021 William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research from LCRF. Dr. Erhunmwunsee received a 2021 LCRF Research Grant on Disparities in Lung Cancer.
Foundation awards $1.8 million in research grants to 11 investigators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW YORK, November 18, 2021
Today, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) announced the awardees of its 2021 Scientific Grant Program during its Evening of Innovation Virtual Celebration, emceed by Dave Bjork, who created and hosts the podcast The Research Evangelist.
LCRF awarded $1.8 million dollars in research grants to 11 investigators whose projects show promise to make a sustained and lasting impact on the field of lung cancer research and lung cancer outcomes. These grants are made possible, in part, by support from Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Genentech, Lilly Oncology, the Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation, the EGFR Resisters and donations from LCRF’s many supporters. In addition to its annual pilot grants, LCRF awarded research grants focused on overcoming disparities in lung cancer, and, in partnership with AstraZeneca, awarded grants focused on understanding resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including therapeutic approaches to overcome these mechanisms.
“We are thrilled to give these awards to such committed researchers,” said Reina Honts, Chair of LCRF’s Board of Directors. “These grants address the areas of most need to move the science forward and improve the lives of people living with lung cancer. LCRF is committed to funding work that explores novel approaches to treatment, improves equity in lung cancer, as well as science that directly addresses acquired resistance to treatment. It is through these research grants that LCRF can have the most impact on lung cancer community. We’re excited to follow these investigators as they pursue their projects.”
“As a lung cancer researcher and former LCRF grantee, I know first-hand the importance and impact LCRF’s funding has on the careers of junior scientists,” said Katerina Politi, PhD, Chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board and Cancer Biologist and Associate Professor at Yale’s School of Medicine. “By supporting investigators so that they can pursue their innovative work, we are nurturing the immediate output of that work and of the work that comes afterwards, which collectively leads to significant breakthroughs. This is the science that is driving the technological and therapeutic advances that we hear about today.”
Through its annual Pilot Grant Program, LCRF funds innovative research focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. This year, LCRF will be funding four projects through this mechanism. The James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit is presented to the investigator whose proposal was selected for outstanding overall merit by the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board. This year’s recipient is Nikhil S. Joshi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Immunology at Yale University. Dr. Joshi’s research project is titled, “Manipulating the functions of T cells in lung tumor draining lymph nodes.”
“I’m truly excited and honored to receive this James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit,” said Dr. Joshi. “This award will enable us to focus on two things: how to make T-cells go out of the lymph node gland and into the tumor, and then figure out how to kill the cancer cells once they get there. I am grateful for the support of the LCRF that will help us take on this challenge.”
LCRF’s other funding mechanism focuses on overcoming disparities in lung cancer, supported in part by a grant from Bristol Myers Squibb. This year, LCRF will be funding two projects in this area that will address important questions across the care continuum and ultimately help to understand and overcome the significant gaps in health equity among lung cancer patients.
LCRF’s William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer is presented to the investigator whose proposal not only demonstrated exceptional scientific merit but also exemplified an enduring commitment to making an impact in the field of lung cancer research. This year’s recipient is Loretta Erhunmwumsee, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery; Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. The title of Dr. Erhunmwunsee’s research project is “Using Social Determinants of Health to Predict Adherence of Lung Cancer Screening in Minority High-Risk Smokers.”
“I am honored to receive the William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. I am floored by this recognition,” said Dr. Erhunmwunsee. “I am hopeful that we truly are prioritizing the vulnerable and this award will allow us to do that. The project will allow us to really understand the impact of different social determinants on the vulnerable and minority communities and their adherence to lung cancer screening. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and excited to be part of this prestigious group.”
The LCRF-AstraZeneca partnership grant track, focused on resistance to targeted therapies and immunotherapies, awarded five grants, totaling $900,000 in funding over two years.
In addition to the presentation of the 2021 Scientific Grant Program awards, LCRF’s Evening of Innovation Virtual Celebration included remarks from LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair, Dr. Katerina Politi, on the impact of the research that LCRF supports, as well as several prior grantees who shared their motivation for this field of research, led off by LCRF Board of Directors Vice-Chair, Dr. Brendon Stiles. Lung cancer patients and founders of the advocacy group, EGFR Resisters, Jill Feldman and Ivy Elkins, shared their personal journeys, and we heard from Dr. Matthew Meyerson, who discussed his past and current research focused on oncogenic mutations. LCRF’s Board Chair, Reina Honts, led attendees in a moment of silence to honor loved ones lost to lung cancer before sharing the hope that research brings to survivors like her. The program closed with a special appearance by the grandson of Olympic-great Jesse Owens, Stuart Owen Rankin, with his message of hope for people with lung cancer because of the research and investigators funded by LCRF. The program was recorded and can be viewed at LCRF.org/innovation.
Congratulations to our grant recipients
The 2021 Pilot Grant Program award recipients include:
Nikhil S. Joshi, PhD 2021 James B. Dougherty, MD Award recipient Yale University Manipulating the functions of T cells in lung tumor draining lymph nodes
Yang Tian, PhD EGFR Resisters grant recipient Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Targeting lung lineage plasticity to suppress Osimertinib-induced drug-tolerant persisters
Joshua Veatch, MD, PhD Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Using CD4+ T cells to target the tumor microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer
Aria Vaishnavi, PhD University of Utah Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of radon-induced lung cancer through a novel mouse model
The 2021 Disparities in Lung Cancer Research Grant Program award recipients include:
Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD William C. Rippe Award recipient City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center Using social determinants of health to predict adherence of lung cancer screening in minority high-risk smokers
Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, MD, PhD University College London Cancer Institute Investigating the association between air pollution and EGFR mutant never-smoker lung cancer
The 2021 LCRF-AstraZeneca Resistance Grant award recipients include:
Justin Jee, MD, PhD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Subclone capture sequencing to guide combination therapy and improve osimertinib response
Lingtao Jin, PhD University of Florida Targeting tumor-immune microenvironment to improve durvalumab efficacy in small cell lung cancer
Giorgia Foggetti, PhD Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele Dissecting the role of the KEAP1 pathway in mediating therapeutic sensitivity in EGFR-driven lung adenocarcinoma
Lior Golomb, PhD Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Investigating the ER Acetyl-CoA transporter as a putative metabolic dependency of mutant EGFR lung cancer
Antja-Voy Hartley, PhD Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Targeting YAP/TEAD bypass activation in Osimertinib-induced drug tolerant cells: a strategy to overcoming tumor recurrence and therapeutic resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancers
For more information about LCRF and the Scientific Grant Program, visit LCRF.org/research.
###
About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 394 research grants, totaling nearly $39 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org.
Contact: Sheila Sullivan Sr. Director, Marketing and Communications ssullivan@LCRF.org
