Developing Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Using Genetically Engineered Mouse Models and Human Circulating Tumor Cells.

摘要

We have successfully developed mouse models in which to perform in vivo experiments, as well as developed expertise in live animal imaging to enable monitoring to tumors overtime in these models. We have initiated treatment studies with chemotherapy and with targeted therapies in our models. Our preliminary data indicate that tumor response to chemotherapy in our models is modest. However, we find that tumor response to combination targeted therapy is significantly superior to either targeted therapy alone or to no treatment. Correlative biomarker studies are underway, including the isolation and enumeration of circulating tumor cells from SCLC patients. These findings support further development of this combination therapy approach and we anticipate ongoing experiments to assess correlative biomarkers.