A Phase 1-2, XIAP Antisense AEG35156 With Gemcitabine in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Carcinoma Clinical Trial

Official title: A Phase 1-2, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of The X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis (XIAP) Antisense AEG35156 Given in Combination With Gemcitabine in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

This is an open-label multicenter, phase 1-2 study. Following determination of the recommended AEG35156 dose in combination with gemcitabine in the initial Phase 1 part of this study, additional patients will be enrolled in the Phase 2 part of the study to assess the activity of the combination first-line in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Clinical Trial Description

Apoptotic induction in cancer cells is a sought after therapeutic goal. Most successful anticancer agents activate apoptosis pathways in the cancers they treat. Apoptotic pathways in cells appear to converge on a single family of enzymes, the caspases, which are proteases that dismantle the cell in an orderly, non-inflammatory fashion, resulting in cell death. The X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis (XIAP) is the only known cellular inhibitor of caspases, its over expression thereby blocks the principal means of apoptosis. A wide range of evidence indicates that cellular overexpression of members of the IAP family is a fundamental means by which many cancer cells evade death, even in the presence of strong extrinsic (death receptor-mediated) and intrinsic (mitochondria-mediated) apoptotic cues. The inhibition of cellular XIAP activity, specifically in cancer cells under stress and primed for apoptosis by chemotherapeutic agents, is viewed as a powerful means of tipping the balance towards cell death. In particular, XIAP has been shown to be overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and to play an important role in gemcitabine resistance. AEG35156 is a second generation antisense which targets XIAP mRNA to lower XIAP levels and the apoptotic threshold of cancer cells, enhancing their sensitivity to intrinsic death and chemotherapy. AEG35156 may thus enhance the anticancer activity of gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. ;

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carcinoma
• Pancreas
• Pancreatic Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00557596
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Aegera Therapeutics
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Start date: September 2007
• Completion date: November 2009