Waun Ki Hong, M.D.
University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Texas
Multidisciplinary Research on Lung Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women. In 2007, there is an estimated 213,380 new cases and 160,390 deaths from lung caner in the United States, which are more than those predicted for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. The 5-year survival rate of patients with lung cancer is only 16%, and there has been minimal progress in conventional treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, reaching the ceiling in the cure of this disease. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed to improve patient survival with lung cancer.
Cancer that arises in the head or neck region, including that in the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, and larynx [voice box], is categorized as head and neck cancer. Although compared to lung cancer, head and neck cancer affect fewer people. There is an estimated 55,000 new cases this year alone in America, and nearly 13,000 will die from it. Like lung cancer, head and neck cancer is also linked to tobacco use. In fact, 85% of head and neck cancers are linked to smoking and smokeless tobacco. These cancers are often curable when detected early. However, treatments can damage important functions including eating, speaking, or even breathing, severely affecting the quality of patients’ lives.
NFCR Fellow Expertise
NFCR Fellow Waun Ki Hong, M.D., former president of the American Association for Cancer Research, is a world renowned scientist and the foremost authority on the treatment and prevention of lung and head and neck cancers. Dr. Hong has developed novel treatment approaches that have enabled thousands of laryngeal cancer patients to avoid radical surgery. Dr. Hong’s approaches eradicate the cancer while preserving their ability to speak and swallow, allowing these patients to enjoy a better quality of life. Dr. Hong also showed for the first time that genetic damage to the airways can persist for many years after smoking cessation. His team also developed measurements to identify genetically the subgroup of former smokers who are at highest risk for lung cancer.
NFCR Research Overview
Dr. Hong is currently leading several multi-disciplinary cancer research programs in lung and head and cancers, focusing on prevention and treatment of these types of cancer. With support from NFCR and other organizations, these programs have made significant advancement over the past few years.
NFCR Research Findings
Research has shown that lung or head and neck cancer patients with a history of smoking are at high risk for redeveloping these types of cancer (recurrent or second primary tumors (SPTs)) after surgical removal of the tumors. Unfortunately, there are no standard interventions that have been proven to help reduce the risk. Dr. Hong’s team has initiated a program called Vanguard Trial of Investigational Therapeutics in Adjuvant Treatment of Lung Cancer (VITAL). The program is focused on developing a risk model for cancer recurrence or smoking-related SPTs in this high risk population. The risk model will help to identify effective preventative agents for those patients and help them to lower their risk of developing this devastating disease again.
As one of the founders of chemoprevention, Dr. Hong and his team have also initiated clinical studies on curcumin and celecoxib for their potential roles in lung cancer prevention. Curcumin is a natural Indian curry spice, and celecoxib is an anti-inflammatory drug used for the treatment of arthritis. Research on these two agents may lead to their new applications in cancer chemoprevention, and may help to avoid or delay lung cancer initiation.
Individualized targeted therapies are considered as the new paradigm for cancer treatment. By targeting specific molecular abnormalities in individual patients, it holds high hope for more effective treatments with fewer side effects compared to traditional radiation and chemotherapy. Toward this goal, Dr. Hong has initiated the BATTLE program, or Biomarker-Based Approaches of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Elimination, to develop individualized targeted therapies for patients with advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) that is resistant to chemotherapy. In the past year, they have successfully initiated four (4) clinical trials to test personalized medicine protocols in lung cancer patients. In these trials, patients are assigned to the treatment drug to which they are most likely to respond based on their personal biomarker profile identified through tumor biopsies. These initiatives will move personalized medicine forward and improve treatment efficacy to individual patients.
In addition, Dr. Hong has facilitated the development of a unique computer game-like education program called “TALK”, aimed at enhancing public knowledge on cancer-related information.
Future Research Goals
Having established a solid foundation for lung cancer and head and neck cancer research, Dr. Hong and his team will continue their efforts in conducting the multidisciplinary research programs in the areas of cancer prevention and treatment. Their work holds promise for more effective preventative measurements and personalized therapies for the patients, and may lead to significant improvements in their survival and quality of life.