Jay M. Lee, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at UCLA with a clinical focus in lung cancer. His career goals are: 1) Research - To develop a scientific portfolio in translational application of investigator initiated therapies to clinical trials in lung cancer and to mature into an independent scientist who can successfully compete for funding. 2) Clinical - To become an academic leader in thoracic surgery known for patient oriented research. In order to achieve these goals, he will receive mentorship from Steven M. Dubinett, M.D. and James S. Economou, M.D., Ph.D., and the mentoring committee comprised of senior faculty members. He will be in a highly protected, stimulating research environment devoted to translational research in lung cancer He is enrolled in the UCLA K12 Clinical Scientist Training Program in Cancer Gene Medicine and will be enrolled in the UCLA K30 Graduate Training Program in Translational Investigation to receive a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research with an individualized didactic curriculum in Immunology. His research project entails the evaluation of dendritic cells, transduced with a replication deficient adenoviral vector to express the secondary lymphoid organ chemokine gene (Ad-CCL-21-DC) to stimulate an anti-tumor immune response. The objectives of the study are 1) to determine the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Ad-CCL-21-DC, 2) to determine the local and systemic biologic activity (i.e. generation of anti-tumor immune responses), and 3) to determine the clinical activity (i.e. reduction in tumor burden) when intratumorally injected into patients with non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with Stage IIIB or IV NSCLC with tumors accessible by CT-guided or bronchoscopic intervention, and are refractory to standard therapy will be enrolled into a phase I, non-randomized, dose escalating, multi-cohort trial at a single institution. A total of 21 patients will be evaluated, 3 patients at each dose level, and an additional 12 patients at the MTD. The project has successfully received RAID and R21 """"""""Quick Trials"""""""" funding, RAC approval, and IND approval from the FDA.

Public Health Relevance

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States with an attendant 15% overall survival at 5 years. Gene modified dendritic cell immunotherapy is a novel treatment strategy that addresses the need for new therapies in this disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23CA131577-03
Application #
8105185
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Lim, Susan E
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$132,031
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Lee, Mi-Heon; Kachroo, Puja; Pagano, Paul C et al. (2014) Combination Treatment with Apricoxib and IL-27 Enhances Inhibition of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Human Lung Cancer Cells through a STAT1 Dominant Pathway. J Cancer Sci Ther 6:468-477
Kachroo, Puja; Lee, Mi-Heon; Zhang, Ling et al. (2013) IL-27 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenic factor production in a STAT1-dominant pathway in human non-small cell lung cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 32:97
Lee, Gina; Gardner, Brian K; Elashoff, David A et al. (2011) Elevated levels of CXC chemokine connective tissue activating peptide (CTAP)-III in lung cancer patients. Am J Transl Res 3:226-33
Baratelli, Felicita; Lee, Jay M; Hazra, Saswati et al. (2010) PGE(2) contributes to TGF-beta induced T regulatory cell function in human non-small cell lung cancer. Am J Transl Res 2:356-67
Dubinett, Steven M; Lee, Jay M; Sharma, Sherven et al. (2010) Chemokines: can effector cells be redirected to the site of the tumor? Cancer J 16:325-35
Pak, Peter S; Yanagawa, Jane; Abtin, Fereidoun et al. (2010) Surgical management of endobronchial solitary fibrous tumors. Ann Thorac Surg 90:659-61
Lee, J M; Garon, E; Wong, D T (2009) Salivary diagnostics. Orthod Craniofac Res 12:206-11
Yanagawa, Jane; Walser, Tonya C; Zhu, Li X et al. (2009) Snail promotes CXCR2 ligand-dependent tumor progression in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 15:6820-9