Lung Cancer Research Foundation and Israel Cancer Research Fund Join Forces for Groundbreaking Study
In an exciting development for lung cancer treatment, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) has announced its partnership with the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF). This collaboration centers around a research project spearheaded by Dr. Joel Yisraeli at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. With a grant of $180,000 allocated over three years, the primary focus of their study is the innovative project titled 'Treating Lung and Colorectal Carcinomas by Targeting IGFBP1.' The research aims to explore the role of IGF2BP1, a protein linked to cancer growth that is usually inactive after birth but reactivates in numerous cancer types.
A striking realization from earlier research indicates that lung adenocarcinoma patients with elevated levels of IGF2BP1 and a mutated KRAS gene exhibit a significantly lower survival rate. For instance, these patients have an average survival of merely 15 months compared to 88 months for those without high levels of IGF2BP1. Furthermore, in mouse models, researchers found that the presence of IGF2BP1 alongside the mutant KRAS gene aids tumor growth in the lungs and promotes metastasis.
Given these findings, blocking IGF2BP1 emerges as a promising strategy to inhibit tumor spread. Dr. Yisraeli's laboratory made an important breakthrough with a molecule named AVJ16, which prohibits IGF2BP1 from binding to KRAS and other RNA elements associated with cancer promotion. In studies conducted on mouse models, this molecule effectively halted cancer cell proliferation when administered subcutaneously. As a future step, the research team will evaluate AVJ16 in genetically modified mice with lung cancer and work on developing a targeted small molecule that aims to degrade IGF2BP1.
The ultimate objective of this collaborative effort is to curate a new class of therapies aimed at specifically inhibiting IGF2BP1's function, ultimately working to hinder cancer development. The involvement of animal testing in this study is seen as a critical precursor to launching clinical trials.
The KRAS gene, the most prevalent mutation found in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, is responsible for approximately 25% of all lung cancer cases. Mutations in KRAS signal excessive cell growth, which leads to cancer proliferation. Notably, around half of the individuals with KRAS-mutated lung cancer present a G12C mutation, for which targeted drug therapies are available, but these therapies do not provide a complete cure.
Dr. Yisraeli has previously received funding from ICRF, enabling his lab to make significant advances in cancer research after his post-doctoral work at Harvard. As Antoinette Wozniak, MD, LCRF's Chief Scientific Officer, stated, this collaboration holds great promise in a notoriously challenging area of cancer treatment, exploring an innovative target that could reshape approaches to KRAS-mutated lung cancer.
Arnold Baskies, MD, FACS, Chair of the ICRF Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for this strategic partnership and emphasized its shared vision to enhance lung cancer treatments while promoting Israel's innovative contributions to cancer research.
For those interested in learning more about these organizations and their initiatives, the LCRF invites you to visit their website at LCRF.org, while further information about ICRF can be found at icrfonline.org.
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation is dedicated to funding cutting-edge research aimed at improving treatment outcomes for lung cancer patients, having allocated nearly $48 million across 428 research grants so far. Meanwhile, the ICRF stands as Israel's leading non-governmental cancer research funder, with a remarkable history of nearly 3,000 grants awarded over 50 years, contributing more than $98 million to pioneering cancer research across the nation. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, celebrating a century of academic excellence, continues to cultivate innovative research and solutions in the scientific arena.
A striking realization from earlier research indicates that lung adenocarcinoma patients with elevated levels of IGF2BP1 and a mutated KRAS gene exhibit a significantly lower survival rate. For instance, these patients have an average survival of merely 15 months compared to 88 months for those without high levels of IGF2BP1. Furthermore, in mouse models, researchers found that the presence of IGF2BP1 alongside the mutant KRAS gene aids tumor growth in the lungs and promotes metastasis.
Given these findings, blocking IGF2BP1 emerges as a promising strategy to inhibit tumor spread. Dr. Yisraeli's laboratory made an important breakthrough with a molecule named AVJ16, which prohibits IGF2BP1 from binding to KRAS and other RNA elements associated with cancer promotion. In studies conducted on mouse models, this molecule effectively halted cancer cell proliferation when administered subcutaneously. As a future step, the research team will evaluate AVJ16 in genetically modified mice with lung cancer and work on developing a targeted small molecule that aims to degrade IGF2BP1.
The ultimate objective of this collaborative effort is to curate a new class of therapies aimed at specifically inhibiting IGF2BP1's function, ultimately working to hinder cancer development. The involvement of animal testing in this study is seen as a critical precursor to launching clinical trials.
The KRAS gene, the most prevalent mutation found in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, is responsible for approximately 25% of all lung cancer cases. Mutations in KRAS signal excessive cell growth, which leads to cancer proliferation. Notably, around half of the individuals with KRAS-mutated lung cancer present a G12C mutation, for which targeted drug therapies are available, but these therapies do not provide a complete cure.
Dr. Yisraeli has previously received funding from ICRF, enabling his lab to make significant advances in cancer research after his post-doctoral work at Harvard. As Antoinette Wozniak, MD, LCRF's Chief Scientific Officer, stated, this collaboration holds great promise in a notoriously challenging area of cancer treatment, exploring an innovative target that could reshape approaches to KRAS-mutated lung cancer.
Arnold Baskies, MD, FACS, Chair of the ICRF Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for this strategic partnership and emphasized its shared vision to enhance lung cancer treatments while promoting Israel's innovative contributions to cancer research.
For those interested in learning more about these organizations and their initiatives, the LCRF invites you to visit their website at LCRF.org, while further information about ICRF can be found at icrfonline.org.
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation is dedicated to funding cutting-edge research aimed at improving treatment outcomes for lung cancer patients, having allocated nearly $48 million across 428 research grants so far. Meanwhile, the ICRF stands as Israel's leading non-governmental cancer research funder, with a remarkable history of nearly 3,000 grants awarded over 50 years, contributing more than $98 million to pioneering cancer research across the nation. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, celebrating a century of academic excellence, continues to cultivate innovative research and solutions in the scientific arena.
Topics Health）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.