by Amy C. Moore, PhD, Director, Science & Research, GO2 for Lung Cancer

Patients with lung cancer face the challenge of drug resistance, while researchers focus on extending treatment duration. In collaboration with the patient group ALK Positive, we have awarded a new research collaboration grant dedicated to overcoming ALK+ treatment resistance.

ALK mutations occur in nearly 5% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, five ALK-specific inhibitors (alectinib, brigatinib, ceritinib, crizotinib, and lorlatinib) have greatly extended the lives of patients. The downside is that drug resistance kicks in far too often. The search for innovative approaches to prevent drug resistance and extend treatment duration is imperative to ALK+ patients and to all individuals living with lung cancer.

This grant was awarded to Dr. Trever Bivona, associate professor of medicine at the University of California – San Francisco, and Dr. Christine Lovly, associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The research will focus on understanding why ALK specific drugs stop working and will test the use of drug combinations to delay or prevent resistance. The project is entitled “Transforming ALK+ lung cancer into a chronic or curable condition by combating drug resistance.”

This collaboration seeks to fill key knowledge gaps in our understanding of ALK inhibitor response and resistance, with an overarching goal of identifying new targets that improve responses to ALK inhibitor therapy and, ultimately, improve the quantity and quality of life for patients. The project was selected after a rigorous internal and external review process by a committee consisting of patients living with ALK+ NSCLC and some of the world’s foremost ALK experts.

In this era of precision medicine, patients are disrupting the research paradigm by funding and selecting projects that deliver maximum benefit to their community. All of us at GO2 for Lung Cancer are pleased to partner with ALK Positive on this research collaboration grant. We look forward to continuing to fuel life-saving research.

Please help save, extend, and improve the lives of those vulnerable, at risk, and living with lung cancer and make a contribution today.