Inhibition remarkably clinical with most priming therapy, of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) prior to the delivery of photodynamic therapy (PDT) can improve treatment efficacy in animal models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, use of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for treatment of patients with NSCLC is limited to those EGFR mutated disease. EGFR-TKI therapy is typically continued until time of disease progression since patients eventually develop EGFR-TKI resistant disease. Here, we propose to use EGFR-TKIs as a brief, therapy for several days rather than as a daily continuous therapeutic. Importantly, as a priming we hypothesize thatEGFR-TKI pretreatment will improve the therapeutic efficacy of PDT (and ionizing radiotherapy, XRT) through an innate immune response-dependent mechanism. the EGFR EGFR-TKI priming involve EGFR-TKIs damage Indeed, demonstrate TKI/PDT). lymphocytes cells) innate notwithstanding investigate clinical XRT. vascular augments and demonstrate Significantly, we posit that use of EGFR-TKIs as a priming approach to stimulate innate immunity is relevant to patients with wild-type disease. However, its potential efficacy may not be apparent in the setting of daily continuous therapy due to suppression of innate and adaptive immunity by prolonged use of EGFR-TKIs. As a therapy, EGFR-TKIs could augment responses to PDT and XRT through multiple mechanisms that cooperation between the EGFR-TKIs and PDT or XRT to promote tumor-directed innate immunity. may increase neutrophil activation in tumors receiving PDT or XRT, serving to increase vascular and/or stimulate other cells of the innate immune system, such as innate immune lymphocytes. our published data show EGFR-TKI to increase vascular damage to PDT, and preliminary data increases in tumor-localized neutrophil activation when PDT is preceded by EGFR-TKI (EGFR- Additionally, EGFR-TKIs and PDT or XRT may cooperatively increase numbers of innate immune and the immunologic visibility of target cells (e.g., tumor cells or tumor-associated endothelial to these lymphocytes. In fact, in preliminary data the efficacy of EGFR-TKI/PDT is dependent on the immune lymphocytes NK and ?? T cells. We note that the role of ?? T cells in response to EGFR-TKI, combinations with PDT or XRT, is a novel area of investigation. Moreover, we uniquely EGFR-TKI priming with proton XRT. Knowledge gained from this proposal will guide selection of a approach to EGFR-TKI priming with radiation therapy, whether it be with PDT, photon XRT, or proton Toward this goal, we will address the following aims: To define the role of neutrophils in promoting damage when PDT is preceded by EGFR-TKI. To ascertain how pretreatment with EGFR-TKI the response of innate immune l ymphocytes to PDT-treated tumors. To establish the efficacy innate immune effects of EGFR-TKIs combined with ionizing radiation therapies (photon and proton) and application in control of lung metastasis.
Aim 1. Aim 2.
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Public Health Relevance

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) makes up over 80% of new lung cancer cases in patients, the majority of whom present with advanced stage disease and for whom standard frontline treatment will include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) if their disease contains EGFR sensitizing mutations. EGFR-TKI eventually therapy therapy is typically continued until time of disease progression since most develop EGFR-TKI resistant disease, but here we propose to use EGFR-TKI as a brief, for several days prior to photodynamic therapy (PDT) or ionizing radiation (XRT) in order to patients priming augment innate immune response to PDT (and XRT) in a manner that is applicable to patients with either wild-type or mutant EGFR expressing cancers. Toward these goals, we propose that it is important for EGFR-TKI to be delivered as a priming therapy because prolonged use can abrogate immunity; thus both the biological mechanisms and intended clinical application of our proposed approach serve to distinguish it from prior research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA236362-02
Application #
9841929
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Buchsbaum, Jeffrey
Project Start
2019-01-01
Project End
2023-12-31
Budget Start
2020-01-01
Budget End
2020-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104