91麻豆天美直播

Skip to main content

Huntsman Cancer Institute Researchers Develop Potential New Treatment for MYC-driven Small Cell Lung Cancer

Trudy Oliver, PhD and Milind Chalishazar

Research from scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the (U of U) yielded new insights into understanding potential new treatment options for MYC-driven tumors, a distinct subtype of small cell lung cancer. MYC is a protein that drives cell proliferation, growth, death, and self-renewal. The results were published this month in , a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research. 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in Utah and the United States. Often, symptoms do not appear until the disease is advanced. Therefore, research studies toward better practices to prevent, find, and treat lung cancer are paramount.

, an investigator at HCI and associate professor of oncological sciences at the U of U, led the study. 鈥淲e conducted this study to determine whether metabolic weaknesses exist between small cell lung cancer subtypes and whether we can exploit them,鈥 said Oliver.

In 2017, Dr. Oliver鈥檚 research created the first known replica of a small cell tumor caused by a protein called MYC and discovered that these tumors are more aggressive, spread faster, and respond differently to therapy. Building on that knowledge, her team delivered ADI-PEG20, an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid arginine, in MYC-positive genetically-engineered mouse models and human patient-derived cells, resulting in a promising breakthrough.

鈥淲e targeted MYC-positive tumors and saw remarkable results, including tumor shrinkage and tumor death and a significant extension in overall survival,鈥 says Milind Chalishazar, a PhD student in the Oliver lab, who conducted the laboratory work. 鈥淭his suggests that we have identified a potential new therapeutic strategy that will improve lung cancer outcomes in the future.鈥 

Currently, small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 10-15% of lung cancers. It is rarer and more aggressive than non-small cell lung cancer. Standard chemotherapy treatment for small-cell cancer has remained similar for the last 40 years. Only minor progress in treatment options for patients who develop resistance to chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer has occurred.

鈥淭he lack of new treatment options for patients with small cell lung cancer often results in poor survival rates,鈥 said Oliver. 鈥淭his research will inform clinical trials we are currently designing.鈥

The study is supported by the Lung Cancer Research Foundation through a William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer to Dr. Oliver, the National Cancer Institute grant P30 CA042014, and Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

Media Contact

Heather Simonsen
Public Affairs Senior Manager
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 581-3194
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu

About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to advance cancer treatments of the future beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient鈥檚 unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.

Resources for Media

Cancer touches all of us.