Gabrielle Ajja
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Mukesh Nyati, Associate Professor
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Radiation Oncology, Michigan Medicine
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 6 (4pm-4:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 13
Presenter: 3
Abstract
Mutant epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) spurs on lung cancer. Currently, tyrosine kinase activity inhibitors(TKI) have been used to combat this, however, unfortunately, roughly a year later patients develop resistance to this type of therapy and are left with no other intervention options which have proven to be deadly. So, our goal for the research we have conducted is to find a solution to this problem for patients in this position and give them a chance with a drug agent that is able to function regardless of kinase function. It has been shown by us, and others, that the degradation of EGFR has a very significant effect on whether or not cancer cells remain alive. So, the goal of our research was to test if a drug that causes the degradation of EGFR without anything to do with ATP will improve the odds for patients in these scenarios. In order to explore these ideas, we screened novel drug agent DGD1202 next to osimertinib in various lung cancer lines. We then took these results and were able to see their correlation with EGFR degradation. We currently are still working on this research, and we believe that once completed, a new, safe alternative intervention to lung cancer patients will be available that will greatly improve their odds.
Authors: Gabrielle Ajja
Research Method: Laboratory Research with Animals
