Laboratory Director
Lung Cancer Systems Genetics
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UCSF Collaborators
The
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center has
thrived under Director Frank
McCormick, who has served as an
outstanding research mentor and collaborator with the Thoracic
Oncology Lab.
The Lab
has integrated itself well into the activities of the cancer
center and established relationships with numerous other
labs. The Thoracic Oncology Research Group (TORG), an
interdisciplinary collaboration of physician-scientists
and basic scientists, focuses on discovering
treatments and cures for lung cancer, mesothelioma and other
malignancies.
TORG serves as a catalyst for ideas and discussion. It alllows for collaboration through RFAs, program project grants and one day through a lung SPORE. The membership includes a distinguished group of investigators, most independently funded through NIH and private funding.
The
Thoracic Oncology Lab also supports the renewed translational
research focus of the cancer center. The lab's work in diagnostics
and therapeutic development dovetail with the goals of the recently
appointed Director of Investigational Therapeutics at the UCSF
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer, Dr. Eric Small. His
primary goal, the development of robust, innovative clinical trials
across all malignancies, will be advanced by the Thoracic Oncology
Program's bench-to-bedside enterprise, the translational research
lab being a core component.
View Complete List of Thoracic Oncology Collaborators
 Allan Balmain, PhD Barbara Bass Bakar Distinguished Professor of Cancer Genetics, 1) Genetic modifiers of cancer susceptibility; 2) Development of transgenic and knockout models for multistage tumor development; 3) Genetic alterations and biological changes during tumor invasion and metastasis. |
 V. Courtney Broaddus, MD Professor of Medicine
We study apoptosis in mesothelioma and lung cancer lines, as models for highly resistant solid tumors. A major focus of the laboratory is 1) to identify mechanisms of resistance to apoptosis in these lines and 2) to identify means of amplifying apoptosis.
|
 George H. Caughey, M.D. Professor of Medicine
Extracellular proteases influence the pathology of lung diseases. The lab is interested in the roles of known and novel proteases in normal and diseased lung, emphasizing roles in scarring, ion transport, and anti-bacterial defense. The lab’s traditional focus is on peptidases secreted by mast cells, which are resident inflammatory cells especially abundant in human lung. |
 Lisa Coussens, PhD Professor, Anatomic Pathology and Cancer Research Institute
The Coussens lab focuses on the role of inflammatory cells and leukocyte proteases as critical regulators of skin, lung and breast cancer development. During wound healing, inflammatory cells are recruited to sites of injury to eliminate potential bacterial infection as well as to facilitate healing by providing growth factors and proteases that are essential to the process. When 'healing' is complete, inflammation resolves and the tissue returns to its former state. Several of these parameters are conserved during tumor development; however, instead of initiating a 'healing' response, inflammatory cells provide growth-promoting factors that help tumors grow. |
 Sarita Dubey, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine Dr. Dubey was recruited to UCSF and joined the faculty there in 2005. The Thoracic Oncology Program then selected her to chair the clinical trials site committee with a mandate to expand the program. In addition to her local leadership at UCSF, Dr. Dubey is a core member of the respiratory committee of CALGB, Cancer and Leukemia Group B, a national clinical research group sponsored by the NCI, and a principal investigator on several CALGB trials. Dr. Dubey's long-term goal is to offer a clinical trial at UCSF for every type and stage of lung cancer and to also address the clinical research needs for less common malignancies such as mesothelioma. |
 Thierry Marie Jahan, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Thierry Jahan, M.D. is the one of the region's foremost and highly regarded thoracic oncologists. Dr. Jahan has devoted his life to treating patients with lung cancer, mesothelioma and sarcoma. In addition to his keen clinical insight, Dr. Jahan is known by patients, their families and fellow clinicians for his sense of empathy and compassion. Thierry Jahan, M.D. is the one of the region's foremost and highly regarded thoracic oncologists. Dr. Jahan has devoted his life to treating patients with lung cancer, mesothelioma and sarcoma. In addition to his keen clinical insight, Dr. Jahan is known by patients, their families and fellow clinicians for his sense of empathy and compassion. |
 Passi Janne, MD, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical
School Dr. Janne's main research interests include the study of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their impact on EGFR-targeted therapeutic agents such Erlotinib and Getfitinib. EGFR mutations occur primarily in a small segment of lung cancer patients, but these patients have a high response rates to such treatments. Dr. Janne's lab is studying mechanisms of developing resistance to these agents and to identify novel ways to overcome the resistance using newer agents in the labs and in clinical trials. |