Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying early carcinogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC), the most common subtype of lung cancer. Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) is the only recognized preneoplasia. AAH is postulated to progress to adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and eventually invasive ADC. However, the molecular landscape of these lesions has not yet been well characterized and the definition and management of these lesions remain controversial. Our preliminary data have demonstrated a progressive increase in genomic complexity and immunosuppression with neoplastic progression from AAH, to AIS, MIA, and invasive ADC indicating continuous genomic evolution and ?immunoediting?. This work led to our recently approved immunoprevention trial, ?IMPRINT-Lung: Randomized phase II trial of immunotherapy for the prevention of non-small cell lung cancers using pembrolizumab?. We herein hypothesize: 1) Immune escape contributes to progression of lung preneoplasia; 2) Higher levels of molecular complexity are associated with less effective cancer immunosurveillance; and 3) Immune checkpoint blockade at pre- and early neoplastic stages prevents or delays the development of invasive ADC. We will investigate our hypotheses in the following aims.
In Aim 1, we will utilize a large, unique cohort of resected AAH, AIS, MIA and invasive ADC to define and compare the molecular and immune profiles to identify molecular and immune features that characterize specific lung preneoplasia stages and subsequent progression. Next, in Aim 2, we will leverage the valuable specimens from the IMPRINT-Lung trial to a) determine molecular and immune features associated with progression or regression of high-risk IPNs and identify biomarkers to select patients suitable for observation versus immunoprevention; b) discover novel targets and strategies for lung cancer prevention. Finally in Aim 3, we will develop and characterize human- relevant lung ADC preneoplasia murine models by a) defing the molecular and immune landscapes of lung preneoplasia in EGFR-mutant, KRAS/TP53-mutant and KRAS/LKB1-mutant genetically engineered murine models (GEMMs); b) determining whether PD1/PDL1 blockade prevents invasive lung ADC in GEMMs; and c) test potential novel targets for lung cancer prevention using lung preneoplasia GEMMs based on insights gained from Aims 1 and 2. I have a proven track record of productivity in defining the molecular heterogeneity and evolution of early stage lung adenocarcinomas and have assembled a team with expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, immunology, translational research, genetically engineered mouse models, and pathology to tackle these specific aims.
Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and progression of lung preneoplasias. Our preliminary data have demonstrated a progressive genomic evolution and immunosuppression with progression from preneoplasias to invasive lung adenocarcinomas that led to the development of the IMPRINT-Lung trial (PI: Zhang), in which we will take the advantage of more preserved host immune surveillance at the pre-/early neoplastic stages and utilize immune checkpoint blockade to prevent invasive lung cancers. This proposal will leverage the valuable specimens from a large collection of resected lung preneoplasias, the unique IMPRINT-Lung trial, as well as human-relevant murine lung cancer models to delineate the molecular and immune evolution in the progression of lung preneoplasias to invasive adenocarcinomas.
