Carla Concepcion, PhD

Research Project:
Finding Ways to Make SMARCA Therapy Even Better at Fighting Lung Cancer

Grant Awarded:

Lung Cancer Discovery Award

Research Topics:

basic biologic mechanisms
mechanisms of metastasis
modeling

Research Disease:

lung cancer

Advances in lung cancer treatments have improved patient outcomes, but patients still die from the disease. A certain type of lung cancer, which has changes in a specific protein (SMARCA4) is very aggressive, spreads easily and does not have effective therapies. A promising new therapy that targets a different protein (SMARCA2) in these lung cancers is being tested in clinical trials. However, we do not know how these treatments will affect how the tumors grow and change over time, especially since tumors are complex groups of cells that can change and adapt to therapies. In fact, some forms of SMARCA4-altered lung cancer do not respond to this therapy. To study this, we've created animal models that closely mimic the human disease. These models help us understand how this new therapy works and how it affects tumor growth and evolution. By doing this research, we will find ways to make this new therapy even better at fighting tumors for patients that urgently need them.

Page last updated: September 30, 2025

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