Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer (YSILC): The Biology and Personalized Treatment of Lung Cancer
Yale University
Principal Investigators:
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD
Katerina Politi, PhD
- Principal Investigators Contact Information
- Overview
- Project 1: Siglec15 as a new target for lung cancer immunotherapy
- Project 2: Mechanism-based approaches to counter TKI resistance in EGFR mutant lung cancer
- Project 3: Identifying and targeting mediators of CNS metastasis from lung cancer
- Administrative Core
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core
- Biospecimen, Pathology, and Genomics Core
- Developmental Research Program
- Career Enhancement Program
- Institutional SPORE Website
Principal Investigators Contact Information
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD
Ensign Professor of Medicine and Professor of Pharmacology
Chief of Medical Oncology
Assoc Director for Translational Science
Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Asst. Dean Translational Research
Yale University
PO Box 208028
New Haven, CT 06520-8028
(203) 785-6879
Katerina Politi, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology & Medicine (Medical Oncology)
Scientific Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Co-Leader, Cancer Signaling Networks
Yale Cancer Center
25 York Street, Rm 208
PO Box 208028
New Haven, CT 06520-8028
(203) 737-5921
Overview
The Biology and Personalized Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Lung Cancer: The Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer (YSILC) unites translational scientists spanning diverse areas of cancer research to address the challenge of lung cancer. The goal of the YSILC is to reduce mortality from lung cancer through development of novel therapeutics and treatment approaches that are based on an understanding of targetable biochemical and immunological pathways involved in progression of lung cancer, acquisition of resistance, and development of metastasis. The YSILC team will accomplish this objective through three projects: Project 1: Test the hypotheses that Siglec-15 (S15) is a major immune suppressor in PD-L1/B7-H1-null lung cancer and that blockade of S15 can be efficacious for a subset of lung cancer patients; Project 2: Evaluate mechanism-based approaches to counter tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer; Project 3: Targeting lung cancer metastasis and drug resistance in the central nervous system. Three Cores (Administrative; Biostatistics and Bioinformatics; and Biospecimen, Pathology, and Genomics) will support the projects and their clinical aims, mechanistic studies, and evaluation of biomarkers for clinical application. The YSILC also includes strong Developmental Research and Career Enhancement Programs (DRP, CEP) with a history of choosing diverse and productive projects with good outcomes. The highly coordinated YSILC projects, cores, and programs are focused on developing novel lung cancer therapies, with analysis of patient samples, cell-based assays, production of human cell lines and animal models of disease as a guide to design prospective trials that translate these innovative targeted approaches to clinical therapies. The expected translational outcomes of the program include: (1) a highly coordinated and focused development of a novel immune agent discovered during our current SPORE research; (2) an improved understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of resistance to EGFR therapies and how to combat it; (3) an understanding of the mechanism underlying brain metastasis; (4) expanding the breadth of lung cancer research by developing the next generation of investigators and encouraging established investigators in other fields to pursue studies on lung cancer through our CEP and DRP programs.
Project 1: Siglec15 as a new target for lung cancer immunotherapy
Project Co-Leaders:
Lieping Chen, MD PhD (Basic Co-leader)
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD (Clinical Co-leader)
David Rimm, MD, PhD (Translational Co-leader)
Sialic acid binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 15 (siglec-15) expression is mutually exclusive from B7-H1/PD-L1 expression in NSCLC cohorts and has been shown to inhibit T cell proliferation and effector function. Blocking of siglec-15 using anti-siglec-15 (S15) monoclonal antibody (mAb) is therapeutic in mouse models and human cell culture systems and results in amplified T cell responses. Based on these findings, a phase I/II, dose escalation, safety and tolerability clinical trial for S15 mAb treatment in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors is on-going.
Although preliminary studies have generated promising results with regard to the potential efficacy of S15 mAb in the clinic, the mechanism of S15-mediated immune suppression remains unknown. Furthermore, to enhance and improve treatment response rates, more work must be done to identify pertinent biomarkers for S15 mAb therapy and modes that modulate S15 expression. Finally, developing combination strategies that alter the tumor microenvironment (TME), such that conversion of the tumor Type is achieved, is imperative for successful targeting and killing of tumor by immune cells and in attaining increased patient response rates to available checkpoint inhibitor therapies. A newly generated immune PDX (iPDX) mouse model, which uses patient-derived tumor tissue to recapitulate and manipulate immune cell responses in the TME, will be utilized to investigate these topics specifically in the NSCLC setting. A proposed investigator-initiated phase II clinical trial in patients with S15+ advanced NSCLC who have progressed on PD-1 axis inhibitor therapy will evaluate S15 mAb efficacy and support biomarker validation studies. Strategies to combine S15 mAb with other agents, such as anti-FGL1 and anti-4-1BB/CD137, to improve therapeutic effect will also be explored. Taken together, the studies proposed here will improve our understanding of the NSCLC TME and enhance therapeutic approaches.
Project 2: Mechanism-based approaches to counter TKI resistance in EGFR mutant lung cancer
Project Co-Leaders:
Katerina Politi, PhD (Translational Co-leader)
Mark Lemmon, PhD (Basic Co-leader)
Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH (Clinical Co-leader)
Targeted therapies have completely transformed the landscape for diagnosis and treatment of metastatic lung cancer, however, they are not curative and acquired resistance continues to be a major impediment. A paradigm for the success of targeted therapies in lung cancer, comes from Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutant lung cancer. Mutations in exons encoding the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR are found in approximately 10-15% of lung adenocarcinomas in the US. These mutations confer sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and four TKIs (erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib and, most recently, osimertinib) are currently approved for the first-line treatment of EGFR mutant lung cancer. Acquired drug resistance, however, is a major challenge and we have very limited knowledge of the mechanisms of resistance to osimertinib given its recent adoption in the clinic. Without knowledge about resistance mechanisms, optimal post-osimertinib treatment strategies remain to be defined. Data from our labs and others indicate that osimertinib resistance can arise through both EGFR-dependent mechanisms involving several different types of EGFR mutation and EGFR-independent mechanisms — frequently epigenetic in origin — that are poorly understood. Very little is known about the molecular context(s) in which these resistance mechanisms emerge, their frequency, biochemistry and how to target them pharmacologically. Given the speed of adoption of osimertinib as 1st line therapy, there is an urgent need to identify these mechanisms and resulting vulnerabilities. Using unique in vitro and in vivo models and patient resources of acquired resistance to osimertinib, innovative genomic and biochemical tools we will: 1) Identify molecular features and new therapeutic vulnerabilities of osimertinib-resistance EGFR variants. 2) Establish mutant EGFR heterodimerization patterns and determine whether these can be leveraged therapeutically to overcome osimertinib resistance; 3) Identify epigenetic processes that confer TKI resistance. Our studies will yield a comprehensive understanding of osimertinib resistance and insight with which to develop new mechanism-based approaches to target osimertinib-resistant tumors — an urgent unmet clinical need.
Project 3: Identifying and targeting mediators of CNS metastasis from lung cancer
Project Co-Leaders:
Don Nguyen, PhD (Basic Co-leader)
Abhijit Patel, MD, PhD (Translational Co-leader)
Veronica Chiang, MD (Clinical Co-leader)
Lung cancers are the major source of metastasis in the central nervous system (CNS). There is an important gap in our understanding of how brain metastases respond to therapies and what mechanisms sustain metastatic tumors in the CNS. We have developed novel methods to molecularly characterize human cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) as well as distinguish tumor from stromal gene alterations of brain metastasis in vivo. Our approaches uncover genetic mutations as well as brain TME induced alterations that converge onto cooperating pathways. We hypothesize that these molecular alterations: 1) cooperatively drive NSCLC brain metastasis and drug resistance in the brain, 2) are clinically actionable, and 3) are more accurately detected in human CSF or brain biopsies, due to divergent genetic evolution and TME induced adaptation of brain metastasis.
Aim 1: We propose to collect human CSF from craniotomies as well as lumbar punctures of lung cancer patients with brain metastases who will be undergoing a bronchoscopic biopsy. By comparing the mutational landscape of matched CSF, plasma and tumor tissue, we will molecularly characterize humans with asymptomatic brain metastasis. Moreover, we will use novel orthotopic patient derived xenograft models (PDXs) to determine if brain metastasis progression and drug response correlates with co-occurring mutations identified in human CSF.
Aim 2: We will test the novel hypothesis that an activated brain microvasculature enhances the survival of drug resistant tumor cells via stromal induced NOTCH signaling in vivo. We will assess if novel bi-specific agents which simultaneously inhibit VEGF and NOTCH can delay brain metastasis progression and/or improve osimertinib response in pre-clinical models. Using human biospecimens, we will correlate the expression of VEGF and NOTCH pathway components with brain metastatic relapse.
Aim 3: We will conduct a clinical trial combining a mutation specific TKI (osimertinib) with a brain vascular targeting agent (bevacizumab) in treatment naïve lung cancer patients with EGFR mutant tumors and CNS disease. Finally, molecular markers (including those studied in Aims 1 and 2) of response or resistance to this combination will be identified by analyzing CSF, plasma and tumor biopsies.
Administrative Core
Core Co-Directors:
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD
Katerina Politi, PhD
Anna Arnal Estapé, PhD
The Administrative Core (Core A) is directed by Roy Herbst and Katerina Politi, Principal Investigators of the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer (YSILC), and co-directed by Anna Arnal Estapé, with support from the program financial management team. Careful oversight by the Administrative Core will be critical to ensure the success of the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer. The Administrative Core serves as the central coordination point for all YSILC investigators, with responsibility for monitoring the progress of all projects and cores toward a translational/clinical endpoint. The Core Directors and Co-Director have responsibility for leading the YSILC program, setting translational research priorities, identifying new translational research opportunities from emerging data, monitoring the progress of all projects, cores and developmental projects and determining changes in direction of projects, cores and translational research as needed. Interactions among YSILC investigators is facilitated by Core A to accelerate the translation of laboratory findings into the proposed and future clinical studies. As a team, the Core personnel monitors finances, maintains communications among project and core leaders and coordinates meetings, including the weekly lung cancer translational group seminar series, monthly meetings of the Executive Committee, annual meetings of the Internal/External Advisory boards and the annual YSILC CEP and DRP Symposium. In addition to these functions, the Core is the primary interface with the NCI, other lung cancer SPOREs, Yale Cancer Center and Yale University, and coordinates outreach efforts, including publications (internal and external), website development, seminars, patient/research advocacy activities, and fundraising programs. Through these administrative activities, Core A is essential to the organization of the YSILC program, to developing a widespread culture of lung cancer basic/clinical/translational research at Yale and to the efficient achievement of the stated program objectives, with the ultimate goal of a significant clinical impact for patients with lung cancer.
Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core
Core Co-Directors:
Shuangge Ma, PhD
Hongyu Zhao, PhD
The main objective of the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Core is to collaborate with all YSILC (Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer) investigators to address analytical needs arising from individual projects. The Core will continue to play a critical role in accomplishing the projects’ goals by ensuring that all studies are rigorously designed, executed, analyzed, and reported. We will ensure that all data are properly managed and protected. The specific aims are as follows.
Aim 1: Provide strong biostatistical and bioinformatics support to all YSILC projects and investigators. The Core will maintain regular and dynamic interactions with all investigators. We will be available to all investigators of the projects, other Cores, and projects funded through the Developmental Research Program (DRP) and Career Enhancement Program (CEP). The Core has been and will remain actively involved in the whole spectrum of study design. In execution, we will ensure that the plans are rigorously followed. We will closely monitor study progress, conduct regular monitoring and analysis, and revisit/revise study designs if needed. After data collection is completed, we will conduct comprehensive analysis using existing as well as new methods and assist in preparing manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and grant applications.
Aim 2: Provide effective data management for all projects. Our Core, along with the Administrative and Biospecimen Cores, will offer cost-effective and efficient data management services using a centralized data management system, which will reduce data management burden for individual investigators and projects and also guarantee the uniformity of collected data. We will ensure that downstream analyses are fully taken into consideration in the process and that all NIH data-sharing regulations are properly followed, which includes depositing properly curated data to public repositories.
Aim 3: Develop innovative biostatistical and bioinformatics methods. The Core has been and will keep developing and implementing state-of-the-art new analysis methods tailored to lung cancer data. This effort will facilitate more effective utilization of the YSILC data, foster lung cancer analytic research, and benefit the broad research community.
Biospecimen, Pathology, and Genomics Core
Core Co-Directors:
David Rimm, MD, PhD
Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD
The Biospecimen, Pathology and Genomics (BPG) Core for the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer will serve as the facility for all human biospecimen acquisition, processing and analysis for all SPORE-sponsored research. We will continue to manage, bank and distribute lung cancers obtained from all interventionalists and surgeons as this occurs at the bedside or in the operating room with research tissues derived from extra passes of the biopsy needle after the diagnostic specimen has been collected. Furthermore, the Biospecimen, Pathology and Genomics Core will work closely with Yale Pathology Tissue Services, the research tissue procurement service supported within the Department of Pathology (also directed by David Rimm) to facilitate safe and rapid acquisition of all fresh lung cancer resection specimens. The Biospecimen, Pathology and Genomics Core presents the following specific aims to achieve the goals and mission of the Core in service to the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer:
Aim 1: To collect, store and distribute human biospecimens with complete clinical, pathological, and demographic annotation for use in Projects 1-3, Developmental Projects and Career Enhancement Awards.
Aim 2: To conduct or assist in molecular pathology analyses of biospecimens including nine modalities for analysis of tyrosine kinase signaling pathways, immune microenvironment, immune profiling and immune monitoring.
Developmental Research Program
Program Co-Directors:
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD
Karen Anderson, PhD
The primary goal of the Developmental Research Program (DRP) of the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer (YSILC) is to identify and fund innovative pilot projects that possess translational potential for making an impact in the field of lung cancer in the areas of risk assessment; early detection; biomarkers for prognosis, therapy, and prediction; biology; and novel treatment approaches. Investigators and projects of funded developmental research projects are strongly encouraged to collaborate with other investigators within and outside of Yale, including other SPORE research communities, with the goal that these projects will evolve into independent full SPORE projects or equivalent scale studies. The objective of the YSILC DRP is to develop innovative lung cancer translational research programs. To achieve this goal, we propose the following three specificaims:
Aim 1: To identify and recruit innovative pilot projects with translational potential for lung cancer.
Aim 2: To support new research opportunities for lung cancer by funding innovative pilot projects.
Aim 3: To enhance collaborations between SPORE full research projects and DRP investigators (current and potential) and to promote DRP projects to potential full SPORE or equivalent scale projects.
Pilot projects funded by the DRP mechanism are strongly encouraged to collaborate with intra- and inter-SPORE projects. Projects making significant progress will be considered for incorporation into a full project if there are any programmatic needs and upon agreement of the YSILC leadership in consultation with the Internal Advisory Board, External Advisory Board and NCI staff.
Career Enhancement Program
Program Co-Directors:
Harriet Kluger, MD
Patricia LoRusso, DO
The Career Enhancement Program (CEP) of the Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer (YSILC) has been designed to contribute substantively to ongoing efforts and new initiatives attempting to address this problem. The goal of the CEP is to educate a new generation of investigators committed to translational research in lung cancer. The CEP has substantial institutional commitment, both in terms of funding and infrastructure. Potential CEP candidates include promising junior faculty who are interested in establishing their careers in translational lung cancer research and/or established investigators whose previous research has been in other areas and would like to transition into lung cancer focused research. Junior faculty awardees will be paired with mentors who are more established lung cancer investigators with a documented record of successful mentoring. In this way, the YSILC will stimulate the development of the next generation of physician scientists, addressing the most challenging issues in lung cancer research.
Aim 1: Support promising early career lung cancer investigators. The ability to provide seed money to young investigators to work in the area of lung cancer research is critical to develop translational research programs with solid foundations that will be competitive for external funding. The CEP will be instrumental in promoting the next generation of translational researchers that have trained in the fellowship programs in Medical Oncology, Pulmonary Medicine, basic lung cancer research, and the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation. We will also reach out to basic investigators in other disciplines (Pathology, Pharmacology, Genetics, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences) who demonstrate an expertise and interest in issues related to thoracic malignancy.
Aim 2: Enhance the careers of established investigators who have newly-defined interest in pursuing translational research in lung cancer. The CEP will help the transition of established investigators who are working in areas other than lung cancer research. This type of support is particularly important to allow these investigators to explore novel research directions and to facilitate collaborations among colleagues working in different disciplines.