Preclinical Data Demonstrate Gemin X Compound GX15-070 Induces Apoptosis in Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Exhibits Synergy with Velcade; Data Presented at 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).MONTREAL -- Gemin X Biotechnologies, Inc. announced today the results of a preclinical study evaluating GX15-070 both as a monotherapy and in combination with the proteasome inhibitor Proteasome inhibitors are drugs that block the action of proteasomes, cellular complexes that break down proteins, like the p53 protein. Proteasome inhibitors are being studied in the treatment of cancer. bortezomib (Velcade(R)) for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is one of the rarer of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, comprising about 6% of NHL cases.[1] There are only about 15,000 patients presently in the U.S. (The incidence seems to be somewhat higher in Europe. (MCL MCL - Macintosh Common LISP ). The data demonstrated that GX15-070 induced apoptosis and exhibited synergistic effects with bortezomib. The findings were summarized in a presentation entitled "The Small Molecule Pan-Bcl-2 Inhibitor GX15-070 Induces Apoptosis In Vitro in vitro /in vi·tro/ (in ve´tro) [L.] within a glass; observable in a test tube; in an artificial environment. in vi·tro adj. In an artificial environment outside a living organism. in Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Cells and Exhibits a Synergistic Effect in Combination with the Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib" (Abstract 2427; Patricia Perez-Galan, et al) during the 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research Wikipedia is not the place for advertisement or self-advertising. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is an organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that focuses on all aspects of cancer research including basic, clinical and translational (AACR AACR American Association for Cancer Research AACR Anglo-American Cataloging Rules AACR Australasian Association of Cancer Registries AACR African Armed Conflicts Resolved ), April 1-5, 2006 in Washington, D.C. "These results demonstrate the potential breadth of GX15-070, which has shown encouraging preclinical results in a number of different cancer models both as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments," said Dan Giampuzzi, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Gemin X. "We are currently evaluating GX15-070 in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and we look forward to additional clinical data later this year." In the preclinical study, GX15-070 as a single agent induced apoptosis in vitro in MCL cells lines and in primary cells from MCL patients, with 9 out of 12 patient samples showing strong sensitivity to GX15-070. The sensitivity of MCL cells to GX15-070 correlated with the ratio of pro- to anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein family members, a finding that supports GX15-070's proposed mechanism of action as a pan-inhibitor of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. GX15-070 was also evaluated in combination with bortezomib, which has shown promising results in MCL treatment but can also induce the intracellular accumulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1, leading to resistance. The combination of GX15-070 and bortezomib resulted in a synergistic effect, allowing a 5-20X reduction in the dose of bortezomib required to kill cancer cells. No cytotoxic cy·to·tox·ic adj. Of, relating to, or producing a toxic effect on cells. cy  to·tox·ic affects were observed in non-cancerous cell lines, suggesting that GX15-070 may represent an attractive new investigational therapeutic option for the treatment of MCL. About GX15-070 GX15-070 is designed to restore apoptosis, the natural process of cell death that is often inhibited in cancer cells. Over-expression of the Bcl-2 protein family inhibits apoptosis and has been observed in a wide range of cancers, including those of the lymph, breast, lung, prostate and colon. GX15-070 is specifically designed to inhibit all of the anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 protein family, thus inducing apoptosis in cancer cells without damaging normal cells, and is the first such small molecule, pan-inhibitor of Bcl-2 proteins tested in clinical trials. About Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) MCL is a blood cancer that is expected to be diagnosed in about 3,500 Americans in 2006 and results in approximately 1,000 deaths each year. MCL arises from a malignant B lymphocyte B lymphocyte or B-lymphocyte n. See B cell. B lymphocyte A type of lymphocyte that circulates in the blood and lymph and produces antibodies when it encounters specific antigens. that resides in the outer portion of the lymph nodes Lymph nodes Small, bean-shaped masses of tissue scattered along the lymphatic system that act as filters and immune monitors, removing fluids, bacteria, or cancer cells that travel through the lymph system. known as the mantle zone. MCL cells tend to grow more quickly than other lymphoma cells and are not as responsive to conventional chemotherapy. Gemin X Biotechnologies Inc. specializes in the discovery and development of novel small-molecule cancer therapeutics based on the regulation of apoptosis, the body's natural ability to destroy injured or damaged cells. Gemin X's lead product, GX15-070, is a small molecule, pan-inhibitor of Bcl-2 proteins. Gemin X is also developing small molecules that induce apoptosis in p53-defective cancers. Gemin X is privately held and is located in Montreal, Quebec and Malvern, Pennsylvania. For additional information, please visit Gemin X at www.geminx.com |
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