Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are found in 15 percent of lung cancer patients in the United States and European Union, and in 50 percent of lung cancer patients in Asia.
Leading the Way
In 2004, Dana-Farber investigators discovered that a subset of lung cancers exhibited mutations in the EGFR gene. These mutations were predictive of the clinical efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors. This discovery was one of the first examples of precision medicine for lung cancer and helped catalyze the entire field of precision medicine for patients with lung cancer.
Dana-Farber became one of the first American centers to begin routine clinical testing for EGFR mutations — which is now the standard of care worldwide. Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors are now used as the initial systemic therapy (instead of chemotherapy) for newly diagnosed patients with advanced EGFR mutant lung cancers.
Our Mission
As part of Dana-Farber's Thoracic (Lung) Cancer Treatment Center, the Chen-Huang Center for EGFR Mutant Lung Cancers will push the boundaries of knowledge in treating lung cancer to develop new and better therapies. The mission of the center is to improve the lives of patients with EGFR mutant lung cancer through innovative research and cutting-edge clinical care. This will be accomplished through the seamless integration of preclinical, translational, and clinical research, including:
- New and novel clinical trials for patients with EGFR mutant lung cancers
- Translational studies of EGFR mutant lung cancers to ultimately help refine therapeutic approaches for patients
- Discovery studies that focus on the generation of research models
- Education, training, and knowledge exchange opportunities for clinicians, researchers, and trainees from the U.S. and around the world, focusing on EGFR mutant lung cancers
Targeting the EGFR Protein: History and Impact
In 2004, Center Director Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD, and his Dana-Farber colleagues discovered that mutations in the EGFR gene help drive certain lung cancers. Their groundbreaking finding led to the use of some of the first EGFR-targeted therapies for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors carry these mutations. It also opened the door to the discovery of other targetable genetic changes, including ALK, KRAS, and MET.
Today, molecular testing helps identify these mutations so doctors can match patients with the most effective treatments, an approach known as precision medicine. Just as importantly, this work has inspired more physicians and scientists to focus on lung cancer, accelerating progress and creating new possibilities for patients.
