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Scalora Consulting Group‘s Helping Hand Fund golf tournament took place June 7, 2024, at the Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, MA and we are so excited to announce that they raised $55,000! Scalora Consulting Group’s Helping Hand Fund partnered with Related Beal to act as the lead sponsors for this event benefiting the Lung Cancer Research Foundation in loving memory of Jennifer Zannini-Cipriani.

Thank you so much to all the supporters, volunteers, Red Tail Golf Club staff, guests, players, and of course to the event sponsors without whom this event wouldn’t be possible: Scalora Consulting Group, Related Beal, Professional Electrical Contractors of CT, Inc., Consigli Construction Co., Inc., HGA, Suffolk Construction, Needham Bank, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Columbia, Lawson & Weitzen, LLP, BOND Building Construction, Sterling Construction, Inc., BLOCK Builders, Inc., Erland Construction, and Commodore Builders.

Below are some photos from the event.

Posted in Events, Fundraise Your Way, FundraisingTagged ,

The good news

The results of three lung cancer trials – LAURA, ADRIATIC, and REACH PC – were among the top five presentations at the plenary session of the annual ASCO meeting. This is very unusual and speaks for the advances that are being made in the treatment of lung cancer.

Why it’s important

LAURA trial: The standard of care (SOC) for treating stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that cannot be surgically removed and containing an epidermal growth factor receptor mutation (EGFRmut+) is chemotherapy and radiation, preferably given together. Despite aggressive treatment, most patients in this category are not cured. In the LAURA trial, over 200 patients with stage 3 EGFRmut+ NSCLC received either osimertinib or placebo after completing SOC chemoradiation. Patients who received osimertinib had control of their disease for a median of 39 months and 74% were alive and free of disease progression at 12 months, compared with 5.6 months and 22% for the placebo group. (Shun Lu et al, New England Journal of Medicine, DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa2402614)

ADRIATIC trial: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of lung cancer that represents 10-15% of lung cancers. The SOC for limited stage SCLC (limited to the chest) has been chemoradiation and there have been very few advances in treatment since the 1980s. In the ADRIATIC trial, patients with limited stage SCLC were treated with durvalumab (anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy) or placebo after SOC chemoradiation. Patients receiving durvalumab saw a significant improvement in median survival of 55.9 months, compared with 33.4 months for patients on placebo. At 2 years, 12% more patients who received immunotherapy were alive than those in the control group that just received SOC treatment.

REACH PC trial: Palliative care represents a number of services including but not limited to pain and symptom control, psychological and social support, and, when appropriate, end of life care. Palliative care is very important in the management of patients with lung cancer and is known to help them live longer and better. Telemedicine has become a frequently used tool in patient care, particularly as a result of the COVID pandemic. The REACH PC trial took place in multiple centers, led by the palliative care team from the Massachusetts General Hospital. Over 1,200 patients received palliative care through telemedicine or in-person visits. The primary outcome was patient-reported quality of life. Researchers found that the benefits of providing palliative care for patients diagnosed with advanced lung cancer were not diminished when delivered via telemedicine as opposed to in-person visits.

What it means for patients

LAURA trial: Osimertinib is already being used in metastatic EGFRmut+ NSCLC and has also been approved for use as treatment after surgical removal of early-stage disease. It now has shown benefit for EGFRmut+ patients who have stage 3 NSCLC that is limited to the chest and is not able to be surgically removed. This represents a major advancement in treatment.  Side effects of treatment were as expected and there were no new concerns. Mature survival results are awaited but it is likely that the survival advantage for osimertinib treatment will be maintained.

ADRIATIC trial: Chemotherapy and immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab) are the standard of care for the treatment of patients with extensive stage SCLC. The results of the ADRIATIC trial establish the use of durvalumab in the treatment of patients with limited stage SCLC. This is of particular importance considering there have not been any treatment advances for these patients in many years. The side effects associated with immunotherapy are well known and there were no new problems seen when it was used with chemoradiotherapy. Of note, there was no increase in the occurrence of severe pneumonitis (lung inflammation) with the addition of immunotherapy.

REACH PC trial: Palliative care already has an important role in the care management for patients with advanced lung cancer. The findings from the REACH PC trial add critical evidence to support ongoing access to telehealth services and show that early palliative care can be delivered successfully via telemedicine. Telemedicine could be very important in providing access to palliative care for patients who otherwise may not be able to get it.

What to look for

All of these clinical trials will change oncology practice. Expect to see future updates for the LAURA and ADRIATIC trials.  Although the results of these trials represent significant advancements, there is more work to be done. More research with new agents will be conducted to try and further improve outcomes for these patients. The REACH PC trial will allow oncologists to provide palliative care to many more patients. The convenience of telemedicine will also allow patients to reap the benefits of these services without the hassle of traveling to appointments. Receiving palliative care remotely will be the norm for patients with advanced cancers of any type.

Posted in Research, Science Made SimpleTagged ,

The good news

The FDA recently granted accelerated approval to tarlatamab for the treatment of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) who have progression of their disease after chemotherapy.

Why it’s important

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing type of lung cancer that affects about 10-15% of lung cancer patients in the United States. Because SCLC has an aggressive nature, patients usually present with extensive stage disease. The standard initial treatment of ES-SCLC is chemotherapy, usually in combination with immunotherapy. The cancer initially is very sensitive to the therapy and patients often feel better very quickly. Unfortunately, the disease has a tendency to come back, and it is often resistant to further treatment. Tarlatamab is a unique bispecific T-cell engager. It works by using two antibodies to connect T-cells (immune cells) to a target on the cancer cell. In this case, the target is DLL3 (delta-like ligand 3). DLL3 is present on the surface of more than 85% of SCLC and is thought to be important in the development of SCLC. The FDA approval was based on the results of the DeLLphi-301 trial. Ninety-nine patients with ES-SCLC that progressed after initial treatment were given tarlatamab. The disease responded in 40% of the patients and was controlled for a median of 9.7 months (New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 389, Page 2063, 2023).

What it means for patients

Tarlatamab is a new, unique therapy for patients with ES-SCLC.  Its approval indicates that there is progress being made in the treatment of this disease. It is important to note that tarlatamab treatment carries with it some unique side effects. About 50% of patients developed Cytokine-Release Syndrome (CRS). CRS occurs when the immune system overreacts when exposed to a drug such as Tarlatamab which is a form of immunotherapy. Symptoms can include fever, nausea, rash, muscle aches, and fatigue. The CRS was usually mild and easily treated by the physician. An effect on the nervous system resulting in symptoms such as confusion, tremors, and weakness occurred in 8% of the patients. Again, the side effects were mild and managed by adjusting the dose of the drug. All potential side effects associated with tarlatamab should be discussed with your oncologist before treatment.

What to look for

Effective therapy for ES-SCLC is an area of urgent need and it is very important that new treatments are developed. Tarlatamab has received an accelerated FDA approval which means that its continued approval may depend on the results of additional clinical trials. Expect to see more clinical trials incorporating tarlatamab. Hopefully, this represents the beginning of more advancements in the treatment of SCLC. 

Posted in Research, Science Made SimpleTagged

Volunteers provide patient and caregiver perspective to foundation’s grant award process

NEW YORK, NY (June 11, 2024) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce the expansion of its Research Advocate group. This select group of volunteers are patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates committed to identifying and funding innovative lung cancer research.

This group is tasked with playing a significant role in determining areas of research to fund, drafting requests for proposals (RFPs), reviewing, and providing input on grant applications, and supporting education, awareness, and funding efforts.

“Research is how we will improve patients’ lives,” remarked Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, LCRF’s Chief Scientific Officer. “Patient involvement in LCRF’s research grant process, from identifying areas of unmet need to helping identify the most promising projects to fund, ensures that we are investing in projects that have the greatest chance of making an impact on lung cancer and patient outcomes.”

“It is important to have the patient perspective when reviewing submissions for lung cancer research grants,” says Dusty Donaldson, Founder of Dusty Joy Foundation and LCRF Research Advocate. “Being part of the grant review process is both empowering and hopeful, as we see first-hand the innovative thinking that lung cancer scientists are using to make the future brighter for everyone impacted by lung cancer. I am thrilled to work with these dedicated volunteers in advancing research in patient-centric ways and welcome our new colleagues to the group.”

LCRF’s Research Advocates:

New Members (2024)

Caroline Blanchard, DNP, FNP-C – Metairie, LA
Urologic Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Stephen Huff – Franklin, TN
Founder of The Huff Project
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Tiffini Joseph, RN – Pembroke Pines, FL
Pediatric CVICU, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Barbara Marsh, DSW, MSW – Miamisburg, OH
Social Worker
Caregiver/Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Aileen Murgatroyd – Sprotbrough, UK
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Marc Tannenbaum, MD – New York, NY
Caregiver/Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Randi Warren, MD – New York, NY
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Existing Members:

Aaron Andersen, MD — Waukesha, WI 
Emergency Medicine Physician
Emergency Medical Associates of Waukesha, WI
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Colleen Conner Ziegler — Rochester, NY
LCRF Board of Directors, LCRF Scientific Executive Committee
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Denise Cutlip – Ypsilanti, MI
LCRF Education and Engagement Committee
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Dusty Donaldson — High Point, NC
Founder, Dusty Joy Foundation
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Bruce Dunbar — New Rochelle, NY
LCRF Board of Directors, LCRF Corporate Development Committee Chair
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Kristen H. Kimball, MS, MEM — Boston, MA
Educator, UCONN
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Barbara LaMonaca — Falls Church, VA
BSN, Speech Pathology & Audiology, Retired
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Frank McKenna, MS Ed — Virginia Beach, VA
Cancer Exercise Specialist
Founder, Beach Better Bodies
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Emily Venanzi, PhD — Newton, MA
ALK Positive Inc. Medical Committee 
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

###

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
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 419 research grants, totaling nearly $44 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.

Posted in Announcements, Research

June 2024

It was October 2019, and Suzanne felt sluggish on one of her morning runs. She typically ran 5-7 miles daily and had collected her share of race medals. “I thought it might be bronchitis brewing, so I visited my doctor for a quick fix as I had a race that weekend,” she said. He took a chest X-ray on a Monday. “By Thursday, after additional scans, I received the diagnosis: stage 4, terminal lung cancer.”

Suzanne was determined: “I don’t remember being scared, just ready to fight. And I had an overwhelming desire to protect my family, especially my husband and daughter.”

A blood biomarker test came up negative, but a tissue biopsy revealed Suzanne’s tumor had the ALK mutation. She started alectinib as her first line of treatment on Thanksgiving that year. Things were stable for almost four years before her cancer progressed in mid-2023. She had another comprehensive tissue biopsy, and a new variant was identified. “I am now on Brigatinib, finished one round of radiation, and on my way to stability once again,” she said.

At first, “I did not want to know anything about my cancer,” Suzanne recalled. “I let the oncology team lead me. I am now knowledgeable about different trials, research, what to do in case of progression, how to handle side effects. I added an ALK specialist to my team, which was crucial since she is the one who detected my progression first. Today, I am the leader of my fight. It took me a year to get there. I admire those who take the reigns right from the beginning.”

Part of her education was connecting with other patients through the #TogetherSeparately Lung Cancer Community group on Facebook, as well as using LCRF’s educational materials. She also found other ALK+ patients. “We have formed an amazing group – ALK Positive – which is a big part of my fight. The connections I have with ALK-positive fighters have supported me throughout this journey. They ‘get it.’ When I am going through something, I just look at those who have had similar experiences. Their courage gives me courage.”

“When fear creeps in (and it does), I try to make my faith bigger than my fear. Also, the amazing research being done gives me hope.”

> Learn about genetic mutations and biomarker testing
> Find a patient support group
> Donate to fund lung cancer research

Posted in Journeys, People, Women & Lung CancerTagged ,

LCRF hosted our third annual Together Chicago event May 15 in a beautiful neighborhood in Evanston, IL. A group of patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and others impacted by lung cancer gathered at LeTour on the sunny evening to connect and learn more about the latest in lung cancer research.

Our panel of experts was moderated by LCRF’s Chief Scientific Officer, Antoinette Wozniak, MD. Joining us as panelists were Rajat Thawani, MBBS and Denise Rouse, MMSPA from UChicago Medicine; and Mary J. Fidler, MD from Rush Medical Center. Ms. Rouse provided her perspective as a physician assistant – a point of view that was new to LCRF Together.

The evening was full of impactful conversations before, during and after the panel discussion. Panelists shared their thoughts, experience, recommendations, and took general questions from the audience. An interesting discussion revolved around early-stage lung cancer treatment, including neoadjuvant, perioperative, and adjuvant therapies, as well as treatment for EGFR- and ALK-positive lung cancers. The conversation on targeted therapies delved into what physicians are doing for patients whose targeted treatment stops controlling their cancer. The panel also explored the side effects of treatments, patient reported outcomes, ADCs, small cell lung cancer, screening, and supportive care options.

Watch our calendar for other events near you and upcoming #TogetherSeparately livestreams.

Posted in LCRF TogetherTagged ,

Nine years ago, in January 2015, Donna Preston was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Her only symptom was a cough that wouldn’t quit.

“I really wanted to just live my life and keep things normal,” Donna said. “At the time I was diagnosed, my five children were 9-18 and it was a scary time for them. We were always honest with the kids but we also kept life running as normal. Family and friends were understanding and supportive.”

Donna found out her tumor tested positive for ALK mutation. “I knew nothing about genetic mutations like ALK,” she explained. “I was devastated when I was first diagnosed at stage 4 and I thought I would never get to see my children grow up. But as my doctor explained my genetic mutation and how we can manage it, I realized that I did have a future. Nine years later, I am still here and going strong. I was able to see my oldest daughter get married last year!”

“I know that if the targeted therapy medication I’m currently using fails and the cancer spreads there are more medications that I can use. Cancer research continues to advance new treatment options.”

> Learn about genetic mutations and biomarker testing
> Find a patient support group
> Donate to fund lung cancer research

Posted in Journeys, PeopleTagged ,

The good news

The FDA recently approved alectinib as adjuvant treatment for patients after surgical removal of early stage (IB-IIIA) anaplastic lymphoma kinase – positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Why it’s important

ALK rearrangements occur in approximately 5% of patients with NSCLC. Adjuvant treatment is therapy given after surgery to prevent the cancer from returning. Despite the development of targeted therapy specific for ALK+ NSCLC, chemotherapy was the recommended adjuvant treatment for patients after surgery. The Alina trial was a Phase 3 clinical study in which 257 patients with early stage ALK+ NSCLC received alectinib (an oral therapy for ALK+ cancer) or chemotherapy after surgery1. The results showed that 93.8% of the patients in the alectinib group were alive and free of cancer at 2 years compared to 63% of the patients who received chemotherapy alone. The brain is a common site of metastases after surgery and alectinib was also able to significantly control the spread of disease to the brain. alectinib was well tolerated with no new safety concerns.

What it means for patients

This is the first targeted therapy approved for use after surgery for ALK+ lung cancer without the need for chemotherapy. This is an important advancement because it allows patients to be treated with a therapy that specifically targets ALK without the added side effects of chemotherapy. The results are early so it will be a while before it is known whether patients live longer because of the treatment. Patients were treated for 2 years with alectinib, so another outstanding question has to do with the optimal length of treatment. This trial also brings up the importance of molecular testing of lung cancer even when it presents at an early stage.

What to watch for

There will be updates on the results of the Alina trial over the next few years. There will also likely be attempts at answering outstanding questions such as how long to treat patients. Look for adjuvant trials that will evaluate targeted treatment in other types of lung cancer. There is also an interest in evaluating targeted therapy before surgery is done. This approach is called neoadjuvant treatment. Clinical trials are ongoing in this area.

1 New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 390, pages 1265-1276, 2024

Posted in FDA News, Research, Science Made SimpleTagged ,

Foundation expands its research reviewing body to meet strategic research investment objective

NEW YORK, NY (April 30, 2024) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) has expanded its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) by five new members. Led by Katerina Politi, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, the Scientific Advisory Board’s primary purpose is to review, evaluate and select lung cancer research proposals worthy of financial investment. In addition, members of the SAB provide opinion and guidance on relevant lung cancer data.

“We are honored and delighted to have these exceptional lung cancer experts join our SAB,” commented Dr. Politi. “Advancing the most promising science in lung cancer is of utmost importance to the SAB and we are thrilled to have these leaders committed to fostering lung cancer research join the Board. This expansion is an important step as we work towards meeting our current strategic objective of tripling LCRF’s research investment by the end of 2024 and meeting our future strategic priorities.”

LCRF’s newest members of its Scientific Advisory Board:

Shirish M. Gadgeel, MD
Chief of Division of Hematology and Oncology,
Associate Director, Henry Ford Cancer Institute/Henry Ford Health

Dr. Shirish Gadgeel is the Chief of Division of Hematology/Oncology at Henry Ford Health. A medical oncologist by training, his area of interest is lung cancer research in general and drug development in lung cancer, in particular. He has conducted and participated in many lung cancer-specific trials and in phase I trials, including investigator-initiated trials based on laboratory research. Dr. Gadgeel has also been a principal investigator of a Southwest Oncology Group trial, S0528, S1507 and NCI protocol 7389 and co-author on major phase III trials ALEX and Keynote 189 which changed the standard of care. He has also engaged in many epidemiologic studies in the field of lung cancer, publishing on features of lung cancer in African Americans and in young patients. He served as the co-leader of the Molecular Therapeutics Program of the Core Cancer Center Grant of Karmanos Cancer Institute before joining University of Michigan and was the site PI for the NO1 grant awarded to the California Cancer Consortium. Subsequently, he was co-leader of the Thoracic Oncology Research Program and the Mary Lou Kennedy Research Professor in Thoracic Oncology at the University of Michigan prior to joining Henry Ford Cancer. Dr. Gadgeel’s clinical research experience spans 20 years. He is a member of the steering Committee of the Lung Cancer Committee of Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). In addition, he is a member of the Editorial Board of Clinical Lung Cancer and a reviewer for many journals including New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology and Journal of Thoracic Oncology. He has served as faculty for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and as a member of the Education Committee of ASCO, as well as a member of the Career Development Committee of the International Association of Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Dr. Gadgeel received the NCI Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award in 2012.

Aaron Hata, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Aaron Hata is an Assistant Physician in Hematology-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is Principal Investigator of a translational and basic research laboratory in the MGH Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research. Dr. Hata’s research focuses on understanding mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance to targeted therapies for lung cancer. His group has discovered mechanisms of clinical acquired drug resistance in EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET and KRAS-driven lung cancers, and he has played an instrumental role in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for overcoming drug resistance. His research has also yielded important insights into how tumor cells persist and evolve during therapy. Dr. Hata received his MD and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Medical Oncology fellowship at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hata is also an Associate Member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, an Investigator in the Ludwig Center of Harvard, and a member of the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center Lung Cancer SPORE. In 2023, he was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation. Dr. Hata is also a 2012 grant recipient of LCRF’s legacy organization, United Against Lung Cancer (UALC).

David MacPherson, PhD
Professor, Human Biology Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Dr. David MacPherson’s lab applies genomic approaches and in vivo models to understand the molecular underpinnings of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).  His lab studies patient tumor samples and employs genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models as well as patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models in their interrogation of genes that drive SCLC initiation and progression.   They also employ GEM and PDX models in efforts to understand and improve responses to novel and to standard therapies, with an eye towards clinical translation. Dr. MacPherson co-leads the Fred Hutch Cancer Center Lung Program, and he co-leads a Lung Cancer NIH SPORE project focused on inhibition of the LSD1 demethylase in SCLC and translation of this therapeutic approach to the clinic. He is a member of the SWOG Lung Committee and member of the Gene Regulation in Cancer NIH Study Section. Dr. MacPherson is also an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington.  He is committed to training and teaches an introductory graduate course, MCB539, The Biology of Neoplasia.

Taofeek Owonikoko, MD, PhD
Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Professor in Oncology & Executive Director
University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, is the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Professor in Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Executive Director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He also holds the role of Senior Associate Dean of Cancer Programs at the School of Medicine and the Associate Vice President of Cancer Programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. A translational physician-scientist, board-certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine, he has a clinical focus on the management of patients with lung cancer. His research interests span the spectrum of preclinical experimental therapeutics, biomarker discovery, and translation of promising laboratory findings into lung cancer clinical trials.

He is currently an elected member of the Board of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Treasurer-Elect of ASCO. He serves as an Editorial Board Member for several highly regarded academic journals including Cancer, Journal of Thoracic Disease, and Translational Lung Cancer Research. Dr. Owonikoko is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Hematology, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Lastly, he has been an NIH Study Section Member for the past 11 years and is a chartered member for the NIH Clinical Oncology Study section.

Dr. Owonikoko has authored/co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed original manuscripts including reports of original research in leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Cell, Science, Nature, JCO, Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery, and Cancer Cell. His work has been broadly cited with more than 50,000 citations and an h-index of 85. He has received peer-reviewed extramural grant funding in support of his research from the US National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, private foundations, and pharmaceutical partners.

Rocio Sotillo, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University
Head of the Division of Molecular Thoracic Oncology
German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ

Dr. Rocio Sotillo, a Pharmacist from the University San Pablo-CEU in Madrid, made significant contributions to cancer research during her Thesis at the Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO) and her postdoc at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work illuminated the roles of cyclin dependent kinases and mitotic checkpoints in tumor development.

In 2010, she established her lab at the EMBL-Mouse Biology Unit in Italy, funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the European Research Council (ERC). In 2015, she became a full Professor at the German Cancer Research Center, focusing on understanding the mechanisms that drive lung and breast cancer development, progression, and therapy response. Her recent achievements include developing unique mouse models to induce different oncogenes in somatic lung epithelial cells in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9 that will serve as preclinical models to study the most efficient combinational therapies in lung cancer. Dr. Sotillo is a 2009 grant recipient from LCRF’s legacy organization, United Against Lung Cancer (UALC.)

# # #

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)

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 419 research grants, totaling nearly $44 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit LCRF.org/research.

Posted in Announcements, In the NewsTagged ,