New Research Collaboration Set To Attack RET Driven Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Through the support of The Happy Lungs Project and RETpositive, four prestigious cancer-fighting centers have started a collaboration to attack a specific, deadly form of lung cancer. Their target: RET-positive, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which typically affects a younger, non-smoking population.
Lead doctors at Stanford, MD Anderson, Harvard, and Memorial Sloan Kettering are working together to identify the most urgent research priorities in the treatment of RET-driven NSCLC. By sharing their research ideas and data, they hope to address gaps in existing knowledge and develop more effective therapies. The group will also support a multi-center RET registry of de-identified patient information, which will facilitate clinical trials of new treatments.
Dr. Steven Artandi from the Stanford Cancer Institute and Dr. John Heymach from MD Anderson Cancer Center will lead a task force to identify RET research projects and the costs associated with them. The group that will continue to develop the “RETgistry,” with additional centers and clinical data, will be led by Dr. Justin Gainor from the Harvard Cancer Institute/Mass General and Dr. Alexander Drilon from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
A follow up call, scheduled for January 7, 2022, will outline progress, further delineate goals, and work towards a priory list of initiatives for funding. Following this call, the four centers will be meeting monthly to collaborate and expedite progress.
The Happy Lungs Project is a 501c3 public charity whose mission is to support researchers and clinicians in finding dependable treatments and ultimately a cure for RET Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, while providing hopeful and helpful information to empower patients in their own journey and healing.
RETpositive is a patient-driven support and advocacy group that aims to improve the quality of life and life expectancy of RET-positive cancer patients.
