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Last Updated: 07/29/2019

DCTD Convenes 2019 Lung Cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) Workshop

The Translational Research Program (TRP) convened a Lung Cancer SPORE Workshop at the National Cancer Institute on June 13-14, 2019 (agenda). The 2019 meeting was organized by Peter Ujhazy, MD, PhD, Deputy Associate Director, and Tam Walton, Program Coordinator, TRP, lung cancer investigators, and advocates. The attendees included translational research investigators in lung cancer, program staff from NCI and the Department of Defense, and patient advocates.

In addition to the meeting’s Keynote Speaker, Lieping Chen, MD, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, who presented, “A Systematic Approach to Unfold Lung Cancer Resistance to Immunotherapy,” an array of topics was covered in the following scientific sessions:

  • KRAS, LKB1, and Related Pathways
  • Immunotherapy
  • Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Other Signaling Pathways
  • Therapeutic Resistance
  • Premalignancy, Risk Stratification, and Chemoprevention
  • Novel Targets
  • Molecular Profiling and Biomarkers
  • Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
  • Epidemiology, Pathology, and Clinical Trials

Meeting Highlights:

  • The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Lieping Chen, presented the new immune checkpoint, SIGLEC 15, an exemplary translational story from discovery to early phase clinical testing conducted by the Yale Lung Cancer SPORE.
  • Introduction of two new Lung Cancer SPOREs: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Dr. McGarry Houghton, PI) and Emory University (Dr. Suresh Ramalingam, PI)
  • Patient/Research Advocacy session exploring the potential collaborations between advocates and the research and clinical communities
  • New findings in non-small cell lung cancer with STK11/LKB1 alterations
  • Novel approaches to overcome resistance to immunotherapy
  • Metabolic programs in lung cancer that indicate tumor aggressiveness
  • Targeting Jumonji proteins in SCLC
  • New drug combinations in SCLC complex spheroids in culture
  • Recognition of living legends of the Lung Cancer SPORE Program: Drs. John Minna, Paul Bunn, Jack Roth, and York Miller

The Lung Cancer SPOREs:

Participating Lung Cancer Programs:

  • Vanderbilt University
  • UCLA
  • Moffitt Cancer Center
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
  • Emory University
Speakers in the Premalignancy, Risk Stratification, and Chemoprevention session (L to R): Michael Kammer, Vanderbilt University, Pierre Massion, Vanderbilt University, Claudio Scafoglio, UCLA, Anastasios Dimou, University of Colorado, Linh Tran, UCLA

Speakers in the Premalignancy, Risk Stratification, and Chemoprevention session (L to R): Michael Kammer, Vanderbilt University, Pierre Massion, Vanderbilt University, Claudio Scafoglio, UCLA, Anastasios Dimou, University of Colorado, Linh Tran, UCLA

Recognition of first SPORE Lung Cancer Directors (L to R): Peter Ujhazy, NCI, John Minna, UTSW, Jack Roth, MD Anderson, York Miller, University of Colorado, Paul Bunn, University of Colorado

Recognition of first SPORE Lung Cancer Directors (L to R): Peter Ujhazy, NCI, John Minna, UTSW, Jack Roth, MD Anderson, York Miller, University of Colorado, Paul Bunn, University of Colorado

Lung Cancer SPORE Patient Advocates (L to R): Janet Freeman-Daily, Kim Norris, Merel Mountain, Tam Walton, NCI, Deb Violette

Lung Cancer SPORE Patient Advocates (L to R): Janet Freeman-Daily, Kim Norris, Merel Mountain, Tam Walton, NCI, Deb Violette