The respiratory cancers, including lung cancer and head and neck cancer, are common causes of morbidity and mortality. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has committed major clinical and laboratory resources for the study and control of these tumors. Specifically, we have developed multidisciplinary clinics for both diseases. The Farber Institute has a major commitment to therapeutic research, particularly in areas of drug development and pharmacology. Much of this work relates to the respiratory cancers. Hence, the construct and title of this Program Project Grant is """"""""The Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology of Respiratory Cancers."""""""" A major treatment strategy includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens for the respiratory cancers. We have developed, and have under study and application, modulators--that is, agents that can improve the chemotherapeutic index of selected chemotherapeutic agents. We have developed new agents or analogs including antimitochondrial agents; novel folic acid antagonists; and platinum dye complexes. We have accomplished, young investigators working in the oncogene-growth factor arena with specific relevance to the respiratory cancers. These selected programs will help us to find and develop therapeutic targets, and provide a better understanding of the disease, including clinical correlates such as response to therapy and prognosis. Finally, we are intrigued with our evidence and that of others that significant beginning progress has been achieved in the treatment of these tumors. We feel it is timely to develop an integrated clinical and laboratory approach to accelerate this progress.
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