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Targeting ferroptosis in radioresistance in lung cancer: mechanisms and preclinical translation

Award Number: R01CA247992
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/07/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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Targeting ferroptosis in radioresistance in lung cancer: mechanisms and preclinical translation - Project Summary Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of nonapoptotic cell death that is induced by excessive lipid peroxidation. Previous studies by us and others identified ferroptosis as a natural tumor suppression mechanism and showed that ferroptosis inactivation, like apoptosis inactivation, contributes to tumor development. Recently, we and others also showed that radiotherapy (RT) can potently induce ferroptosis and suggested that ferroptosis inducers (FINs) can be used in RT to overcome radioresistance. However, the underlying mechanisms of ferroptosis in radioresistance and the exact cancer or genetic contexts in which to target ferroptosis in RT still remain largely unexplored. This application aims to determine the mechanisms by which ferroptosis inactivation contributes to radioresistance in KEAP1-mutant lung cancer cells and to assess the combination of RT and FINs in treating KEAP1-mutant lung cancers. KEAP1 is commonly mutated in lung cancer, and KEAP1-mutant lung cancers are resistant to RT. KEAP1 mutation or deficiency in lung cancer stabilizes NRF2 and promotes an NRF2-mediated antioxidant response. Our recent publication and new preliminary data support our central hypotheses that (i) KEAP1 deficiency promotes radioresistance largely through inhibiting ferroptosis, and KEAP1 regulates ferroptosis through NRF2 transcriptional targets SLC7A11 and other unidentified downstream targets; and (ii) combining RT and FINs that inactivate SLC7A11 (or other potential ferroptosis inhibitors identified from our studies) is an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome radioresistance in KEAP1-mutant lung cancers without causing significant damage in normal tissues. To test our hypotheses, we will pursue the following specific aims: Specific Aim 1: To determine the mechanisms by which KEAP1 regulates ferroptosis and radioresistance in lung cancer cells. Specific Aim 2. To determine the effectiveness of combining FINs with RT for treating KEAP1-mutant lung cancer. Our proposed studies are expected to identify novel mechanisms of ferroptosis and radioresistance and to identify effective new therapeutic strategies to overcome radioresistance in lung cancer treatment. Our proposed studies will have a significant impact on both our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of ferroptosis and radiation biology and our ability to target ferroptosis-related radioresistance in cancer treatment.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $393,304 )
2025	2025	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS M.D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	5	5/29/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$39,331
2025	2025	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, A COMPONENT OF THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS SYSTEM	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	5	12/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$353,973
														Subtotal = $393,304

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $373,639 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, THE	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	4	11/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$353,973
2024	2024	THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, A COMPONENT OF THE UNIVERISTY OF TEXAS SYSTEM	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	4	4/18/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$19,666
														Subtotal = $373,639

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $385,437 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, THE	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	3	11/10/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$353,974
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, THE	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	3	3/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,463
														Subtotal = $385,437

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $385,437 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, THE	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	2	11/22/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$353,973
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER, THE	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	001	2	5/20/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$31,464
														Subtotal = $385,437

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $393,305 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS M D ANDERSON CANCER CENTER	1515 HOLCOMBE BLVD UNIT 207	HOUSTON	TX	77030	HARRIS	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	12/7/2020	NEW	$393,305
														Subtotal = $393,305

Grand Total All Awards = $1,931,122

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Targeting ferroptosis in radioresistance in lung cancer: mechanisms and preclinical translation

Award Number: R01CA247992

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/07/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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