This $531,379 federal Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.395 - Cancer Treatment Research) to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) aims to investigate mitochondrial networks as a critical determinant of response to antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The key products and services delivered under this 5-year grant, which began in March 2025, will be research focused on two primary goals: 1) evaluating baseline mitochondrial network architecture as a predictor of NSCLC response to ADCs containing the deruxtecan (DXD) payload, and 2) quantifying changes in mitochondrial networks as a mechanism of ADC treatment resistance. This research will be conducted through profiling mitochondrial networks and function in NSCLC cell lines, xenografts, patient-derived xenografts, and patient tumor samples. The findings are intended to elucidate the biological principles underlying NSCLC response and resistance to these emerging ADC cancer therapies.