Genomics of Young Lung Cancer and INHERIT Studies Accepted for Presentation at ASCO

Genomics of Young Lung Cancer and INHERIT Studies Accepted for Presentation at ASCO
Two Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute research studies funded in part by the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation chosen for presentation at the May/June 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting

SAN CARLOS, Calif. (May 13, 2015) The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is pleased to congratulate the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) on the acceptance of two abstracts for presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in May 2015. ALCMI investigators will present study information and results from the Genomics of Young Lung Cancer and INHERIT EGFR studies.

“We are very proud to have provided the seed grant to make these studies possible and to continue to support ALCMI in advancing life-saving innovations for lung cancer patients,” said Bonnie J. Addario, stage 3B lung cancer survivor and founder of both ALCF and ALCMI.

The Genomics of Young Lung Cancer study is a first-of-its-kind study to understand why lung cancer occurs in young adults, who are usually quite healthy and never smokers, and to identify lung cancer gene mutations that may help impact their treatment. Researcher’s evolving understanding of the disease and new molecular tools suggest that young age may be an under-appreciated clinical marker of new genetic subtypes. Launched in 2014, an important goal for this research study is to reveal new lung cancer sub-types requiring distinct treatment strategies.

The INHERIT study, launched in 2012, is testing patients with the T790M mutation tumors for underlying inherited T790M mutations. Lung cancer in never-smokers has recently been found identifiable in family members carrying an inherited EGFR gene mutation called T790M. Understanding underlying biology in high-risk families will provide insight into why lung cancer occurs in never-smokers; however, such families have been too rare to study systematically. Creating a registry of high-risk families lays the groundwork for subsequent lung cancer screening and prevention research, irrespective of smoking history.

“Lung cancer in never-smokers is the seventh most common malignancy worldwide,” added Steven Young, president and COO of ALCMI. “Environmental and inherited causes for the diagnosis of lung cancer in never-smokers remain uncertain. Both the Genomics of Young Lung Cancer and INHERIT studies seek to identify risk factors for lung cancer patients and lay the groundwork for innovative treatment options.”

Researchers on the Genomics of Young Lung Cancer study include Drs. Barbara Gitlitz (University of Southern California), Geoffrey Oxnard (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Silvia Novello (University of Torino, Italy), and funders include ALCF, Peter Barker Foundation, Genentech Inc., Beth Longwell Foundation, Schmidt Legacy Foundation and Upstage Lung Cancer.

Researchers on the INHERIT study include Drs. Geoffrey Oxnard, Judy Garber (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Georgia Wiesner (Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center), and funders include ALCF and Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

For those interested in learning more about ALCF, visit www.lungcancerfoundation.org and follow its activities on Twitter and Facebook. For ALCMI, visit www.alcmi.org.

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation’s goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $20 million for lung cancer research and related programs.

About the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute
The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), founded in 2008 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization, is a patient-centric, international research consortium driving research otherwise not possible, evidenced by ALCMI’s current clinical studies CASTLE, INHERIT EGFR, and the Genomics of Young Lung Cancer. ALCMI overcomes barriers to collaboration via a world-class team of investigators from 22 institutions in the U.S. and Europe, supported by dedicated research infrastructures such as centralized tissue banks, data systems and project management. ALCMI directly facilitates research by combining scientific expertise found at leading academic institutions with patient access through our network of community cancer centers – accelerating novel research advancements to lung cancer patients.