Biologist

ATCC and the Broad Institute have developed CRISPR-engineered cancer cell lines to study drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. The initial collaboration produced 13 isogenic NSCLC cell lines, each containing a specific resistance mechanism to osimertinib, an EGFR inhibitor used to treat EGFR-mutant lung cancers. The models address a critical oncology challenge: whilst targeted therapies improve survival, resistance inevitably develops. Developing resistant models from patient tumours can take years due to sample scarcity, but engineered models allow systematic study of multiple resistance pathways more quickly. The engineered models will be integrated into the Cancer Dependency Map to help build a response and resistance map of therapeutic vulnerabilities. They will be made available through ATCC and the DepMap portal to support cancer research, functional genomics and AI-driven drug discovery globally.

ATCC and Broad Institute engineer new cancer models to decode resistance to targeted therapy. New models can help researchers accelerate discovery of resistance pathways. 20 avr. 2026 08h30 HE | Source: ATCC Key Takeaways * Creating new models of drug-resistant cancer: ATCC and the Broad Institute collaborated to develop CRISPR-engineered drug-resistant isogenic cell lines that replicate clinically observed resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies. The initial effort resulted in 13 isogenic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, each engineered to harbor a defined resistance mechanism to the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib. * Expanding the Cancer Dependency Map: The models will be integrated into the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) to help build a response and resistance map (ResMap) of therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer. * Advancing precision oncology: The models allow researchers to directly compare drug-sensitive and resistant cancer cells to uncover new therapeutic targets and drug combination strategies. * Providing an open resource for global researchers: The engineered models and associated genomic datasets will be made available through ATCC and the DepMap portal to support cancer research, functional genomics, and AI-driven drug discovery. MANASSAS, Va., and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - ATCC and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard today announced new research describing the development of engineered isogenic cancer models designed to replicate resistance to targeted therapies, beginning with osimertinib, the latest-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutations. The work addresses a critical challenge in oncology - treatment resistance that emerges over time. EGFR-mutant lung cancer was among the first subsets of a major epithelial cancer where directly targeting an oncogene was associated with marked clinical benefit. While targeted therapies have significantly improved overall survival, resistance inevitably develops. Understanding resistance mechanisms is essential for identifying combination therapies capable of producing durable responses and potentially disease-free remissions. Developing resistant models directly from patient tumors, however, can take years due to the scarcity of samples. In contrast, engineering resistance mechanisms in controlled laboratory models allows researchers to systematically study multiple escape pathways much faster. To accelerate discovery, scientists from ATCC and the Broad Institute collaborated to engineer a panel of drug-resistant NSCLC models using CRISPR gene editing and gene overexpression techniques. These models systematically model the resistance mechanisms that arise in patients treated with osimertinib. "With this powerful new set of tools, drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cells can be studied side by side to understand therapeutic resistance and the underlying drivers," said Ruth Cheng, PhD, CEO of ATCC. "By creating and providing these cancer models along with a rich data-set to the global research community, our hope is to reveal hidden targets and combination strategies that turn today's treatment failures into tomorrow's breakthrough. We look forward to extending this approach to additional cancer types." Engineering drug-resistant lung cancer models Led by William R. Sellers, MD, Director of the Cancer Program at the Broad Institute, Fang Tian, PhD, Director of Biological Content at ATCC, and Francisca Vazquez, PhD, Director of DepMap at the Broad Institute, the ATCC-Broad team identified representative classes of resistance mechanisms to osimertinib. They then selected three disease-representative, osimertinib sensitive NSCLC cell lines as the foundation for developing the new isogenic drug- resistant cell models. ATCC engineered the selected authenticated cell lines with resistance mechanisms using CRISPR-based methods. The six resistance mechanisms included: * PIK3CA E545K mutation * KRAS G12D mutation * BRAF V600E mutation * EGFR C797S mutation * CCDC6-RET fusion * TPM3 - NTRK1 fusion In addition, scientists at the Broad Institute are generating additional resistant cell lines driven by gene amplification mechanisms using overexpression methods. These engineered isogenic model systems allow researchers to compare genetically matched cancer cells that differ only by a specific resistance alteration - providing a powerful framework to study how tumors evolve under targeted therapy. Building a response and resistance map for cancer The models will be integrated into the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap), a global effort to identify genetic vulnerabilities across hundreds of cancer cell models. The collaboration also contributes to the development of a Response and Resistance Map (ResMap) - an emerging framework designed to systematically characterize how cancers respond to therapy and how resistance evolves. "Drug resistance remains one of the most significant barriers to durable cancer treatment," said Kirsty Wienand, PhD, Sr Research Scientist in DepMap at the Broad Institute. "Systematically engineering resistance mechanisms in well-characterized cell models allows us to study how tumors adapt to targeted therapy. Integrating these models into DepMap will help researchers worldwide identify new vulnerabilities and potential therapeutic combinations." Enabling and accelerating discovery across the global research community The collaboration ensures that both the biological models and the associated data will be widely accessible to the scientific community. * Data will be integrated into the DepMap portal, with links to the corresponding ATCC cell line identifiers. * The engineered cell lines will be distributed globally through ATCC following authentication and quality control. Systematically engineering clinically relevant resistance mechanisms in lung cancer models, the collaboration establishes a scalable framework for studying how tumors escape targeted therapies. The resulting models and datasets will help researchers identify new vulnerabilities and therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance and improve outcomes for patients with cancer. By combining advanced cell engineering, functional genomics, and computational biology, the collaboration provides a powerful resource for studying drug resistance, cancer vulnerabilities, and precision oncology strategies. Research to be presented at industry event ATCC and Broad Institute will present the research findings at the American Association for Cancer Research(R)(AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, April 17-22 in San Diego. Title: Engineering isogenic models harboring resistance mechanisms to the latest-generation EGFR inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics Session Title: Drug Resistance 2: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Date: April 22, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Poster Section 11 Poster Board: 8 Poster Number: 7029 About ATCC ATCC is a premier global biological materials and information resource and standards organization and the leading developer and supplier of authenticated cell lines, microorganisms, and associated data for academia, industry, and government. With a history of scientific contributions spanning more than a century, ATCC offers an unmatched combination of being the world's largest and most diverse collection of biological reference materials and data, and is a mission-driven, trusted partner that supports and encourages scientific collaboration. ATCC products, services, partnerships, and people provide the global scientific community with credible, advanced model systems to support complex research and innovations in basic science, drug discovery, translational medicine, and public health. ATCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with research and technology centers of excellence in Gaithersburg and Germantown, Maryland. Media Contact: Samantha Paro Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs ATCC [email protected] About the Broad Institute Broad Institute is an independent, non-profit research organization whose mission is to understand the roots of disease and close the gap between new biological insights and impact for patients. Founded in 2004 by the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, the Broad Institute exists at the intersection of scientific disciplines, convening scientists and other experts from genomics, cell biology, chemistry, engineering, neuroscience, therapeutics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, computational biology, and public health. The Broad Institute engages thousands of scientists from MIT, Harvard, Harvard's primary teaching hospitals, other academic institutions, and leading corporate partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, all of whom share the goal of translating research findings into safe and effective therapeutic interventions for all common and rare diseases. [*Not affiliated with or endorsed by AACR.]

Building a bioliterate workforce in Prince William County. The Prince William County Department of Economic Development & Tourism (PWCDEDT) participated in the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) roadshow event Empowering the Future of Biotechnology through Trusted Science at American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)'s corporate headquarters in Innovation Park, Manassas on November 21. The exclusive gathering included an intersection of key leaders in academia, industry, and government for the NSCEB's Biotech Across America Roadshow program, which comes on the heels of the comprehensive 200-page report presented to the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee in April 2025. This stop featured global leadership in the bioeconomy, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), and Virginia Bio. Major biomanufacturing startups from across the Capital BioHealth Region were featured on panels, including the Endeavor234 incubator graduate, Capra Biosciences, who is working with ATCC on projects related to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Switch program. "We grow and protect the essential resources that can harness the immense power of biology - impacting everything from cancer and infectious diseases to agriculture. Every milestone related to scientific biological discovery is recorded at ATCC," said ATCC president and CEO Ruth Cheng, PhD. "The bioeconomy is a shared mission for resiliency which starts with the talent pipeline." Located in Manassas for nearly 30 years, the private non-profit is an anchor life science and biomanufacturing company for the county's burgeoning Innovation District, which is powered by PWCDEDT, the City of Manassas, and George Mason University (GMU). In addition to successful workforce programs such as Virgina Bio's STEM2VA and VIPC's Lab-to-Launch, GMU just launched the Northern Virginia International Soft-Landing Accelerator (NISA) program designed to help start-ups from around the globe find guidance, connections, and lab or office space in Innovation District. "ATCC's growing campus in Prince William County highlights a major economic opportunity for us," said Christina Winn, executive director, PWCDEDT. "Businesses are actively looking for modern industrial space, places where advanced biomanufacturing, tech innovators, and their suppliers can scale their ideas. The demand is there, and we're in a competitive position to capture it." The event coincided with ATCC's 100th anniversary year, and key leaders were given a guided tour of the new biomanufacturing facility that's under construction. ATCC invested $54.6 million to build the new lab and when complete, it will create 75 new high-paying jobs... ATCC will continue its central role in supporting U.S. priorities in health, biosecurity, and domestic biomanufacturing. "This is the next century of biology, and we at ATCC are proud to be supporting it." said Cheng. "Our global competitiveness depends on deep collaboration and collective action." About NSCEB The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the bioindustrial revolution. The Commission published a comprehensive report in April 2025, including recommendations for action by Congress and the federal government. The bipartisan Commission is composed of Congressionally appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit: biotech.senate.gov. Share this.