Clinical trials unite mice and humans

摘要

Advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Over the past decade, treatment of patients with this disease has changed considerably to incorporate a more personalized approach. Many patients are tested for a key onco-genie mutation in their tumours' DNA, and those who carry it are treated with a targeted therapy. Unfortunately, such tumours often display markedly diverse responses to the treatment. On page 613 of this issue, Chen and colleagues' use genetically engineered mouse models of NSCLC to interrogate the molecular complexity underlying the mixed therapeutic response.