Dr. Pasi Jänne

Biography

Pasi Jänne is a professor in the Department of Medicine at Harvard University, focusing his research on understanding the mechanisms underlying sensitivity and resistance to kinase inhibitors in cancer treatment. Driven by a multifaceted approach, he combines cell biological and biochemical studies with genomic analyses of human tumors from patients treated with kinase inhibitors. His extensive studies on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) highlight its therapeutic relevance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Jänne’s laboratory has identified somatic mutations in EGFR and their association with sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, thereby elucidating the genomic and biochemical bases that underlie clinical effectiveness. His ongoing research includes delineating the clinical significance of various EGFR mutations, investigating the efficacy of different classes of EGFR inhibitors, and identifying resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies. Additionally, Jänne's work encompasses the use of therapeutic EGFR antibodies in treating head and neck and colorectal cancers, as well as studying kinases such as MET and ALK in lung cancers. His overarching goal is to identify specific subsets of cancers that can be effectively treated with kinase inhibitors, ultimately using these findings to guide clinical trial designs for lung cancer therapies.

Research Interests