# Lung, Head & Neck Cancers Program

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $71,335

## Abstract

LUNG, HEAD & NECK CANCERS PROGRAM (Project-534)
ABSTRACT
Overview and Goals: The Lung, Head and Neck Cancer (LHN) Program unites scientists focused on
malignancies of lung and head and neck with the goal to decrease the incidence, morbidity and mortality of lung
and head and neck cancer. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UCCC catchment
area while HNC causes significant morbidity and mortality. The smoking rate in Colorado is lower than the
national average but still causes the majority of LHN cancers, however, non-smoking related cancers in young,
particularly female, patients are rising. Thus, research in the LHN program focuses on tumors caused by tobacco
as well as other etiologies (non-smoking related driver mutations and human papilloma virus (HPV)). Program
research falls into 3 areas: Risk, Early Detection and Chemoprevention; Tumor Genetics and Biology; and
Experimental Therapeutics. Research Highlights: Research initiatives directly translated to our catchment area
include development and validation of biomarkers to inform management of CT detected lung nodules;
investigation of the biology of premalignant lesions to define risk of progression to cancer; chemoprevention of
lung cancer and HNC; discovery of targetable mutations with translation to clinical trials; defining tumor
vulnerabilities and mechanisms of resistance; developing biomarkers to provide personalized treatment;
discovering the pathogenesis of HPV-associated HNC; and translating new approaches to decrease treatment
side effects and improve survivorship. Program Activities: The program fosters interactions through seminars,
retreats and training bringing together basic and clinical scientists in collaborative projects. Pilot grants through
the UCCC, Lung SPORE and developing HNC SPORE support promising research initiatives. UCCC Shared
Resources that are highly utilized by program members include Flow Cytometry, Genomics, Molecular
Pathology, Biostatistics/Bioinformatics and Tissue Biobanking and Processing. Program leaders and members
mentor young investigators through Career Enhancement Programs in the Lung and developing HNC SPOREs;
the UCCC K12; the VA Career Development Program; the NCI T32 developed and led by the Program Leaders;
and an NHLBI Pulmonary Sciences T32. Members: The LHN program is comprised of 22 Full and 27 Associate
members, from 2 consortium institutions (UCD and VA) and appointed in the Schools of Medicine, Dental
Medicine and Public Health at UCD. LHN members hold $3.3M ($1.3M NCI) in peer-reviewed cancer research
funding in 2015 and produced 362 cancer-focused publications since 2011, of which 49% were inter- and 30%
intra-programmatic, exemplifying the highly interactive nature of the LHN program. Future Directions: The LHN
program will further enhance early detection, prevention and biomarker research in lung cancer and HNC and
improve the integration of clinical and molecular diagnosis and targeted therapies for LHN c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10133564
- **Project number:** 5P30CA046934-33
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Dan Theodorescu
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $71,335
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-04-04 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10133564

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10133564, Lung, Head & Neck Cancers Program (5P30CA046934-33). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10133564. Licensed CC0.

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