Targeted therapies represent the future of oncology treatment. Toward this end, we have recently identified and subsequently validated novel drug targets in four independent settings that are effective and specific to tumors bearing mutations in common oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Our functional genetic approach, based on the genetic principle of synthetic lethality, utilizes a state-of-the-art high-throughput RNA interference and small molecule screening platform, genetically defined cell systems as well as patient-derived cultures for target discovery, advanced computational biology methods using publically available datasets to prioritize targets, and patient-derived xenografts to validate thee novel targets. Through the development and expansion of this integrative discovery engine, we will generate a gold standard synthetic lethal database for several major oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes and identify novel drug targets for three major cancer types. In the very near future this pipeline could be utilized for iterative clinical trial design and personalized cancer treatment.

Public Health Relevance

This application focuses on three cancers in urgent need of better therapies: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, triple negative breast cancer, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. There are currently no effective targeted therapies for these tumors and patients with these cancers exhibit poor outcome. Mutation of the tumor suppressor TP53 plays a major role each of these cancers and is associated with more aggressive treatment resistant disease. We have developed an efficient and accurate method to identify the weakness of cancer cells, including those carrying mutations in TP53. We show that targeting these weaknesses with drugs is effective in preclinical models of human cancer. Here we propose to expand this approach to identify and validate novel drug targets for these highly aggressive, treatment-resistant tumors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
1U01CA176303-01
Application #
8495704
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-R (J1))
Program Officer
Gerhard, Daniela
Project Start
2013-06-18
Project End
2017-04-30
Budget Start
2013-06-18
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$1,088,820
Indirect Cost
$381,877
Name
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
078200995
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98109
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