Conference Reports
The 98th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research
Los Angeles, CA, USA, 14th-18th April 2007
Since its founding in 1907 by 11 laboratory scientists and clinicians, the American Association for Cancer Research has grown to include over 26,000 members worldwide. Its annual meeting, held in this, its centennial year, in Los Angeles, provided the perfect opportunity for delegates to look back over the advances and accomplishments of the past 100 years, as well as providing the usual forum to discuss the latest developments in the field.
The "New Drugs on the Horizon" mini-symposium sessions provided the pharmaceutical industry with an opportunity to present details of some of its most promising new drugs from oncology pipelines. GlaxoSmithKline unveiled its preclinical-stage pan-AKT inhibitor, GSK- 690693, which showed encouraging results in mice with solid tumour xenografts and potential in combination with lapitinib ditosylate (Tykerb). AstraZeneca presented positive preclinical results for AZD-7762, a Chk-1 kinase inhibitor, which, in combination with gemcitabine hydrochloride, significantly inhibited tumour growth in animal models. Also, Pfizer disclosed PF-562271's activity as a focal adhesion kinase inhibitor, with broadspectrum anticancer activity in xenograft models. Results of the first Phase I trial of this agent will be presented at the upcoming ASCO Annual Meeting in June.
The poster sessions at the AACR meetings are always a highlight, and this year's was no exception, with over 6,000 abstracts submitted, a particularly large proportion of which dealt with investigational anticancer agents. Fully-human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) continued to be a hot topic, following the recent successful introduction to the market of Amgen's panitumumab (Vectibix). Viventia Biotech revealed that it is working on a human MAb, VB1-050, against a novel target, overexpressed in most cancer types, the Glut-8 receptor. The MAb showed cell surface reactivity against a wide variety of cancer types including breast, colon, liver, melanoma, prostate and ovarian cancers. Elsewhere, Kirin Brewery and Genzyme provided an update on their project to develop human MAbs against specific tumour endothelial markers (TEMs), in which candidate MAbs have been generated targeting TEM7, and are now under evaluation for anticancer activity in transgenic mice models.
Small-molecule drugs disclosed for the first time included two topoisomerase inhibitors -ARC-111 and ST- 1968, under development by Genzyme and Sigma-Tau, respectively. Both agents showed improved activity over irinotecan and topotecan in xenograft models. Following a different strategy, Kinex revealed that it will commence commence a Phase I trial for KXO-1 in the latter half of this year. This will be the first non-ATP competitive Src inhibitor to enter clinical trials and results will be eagerly anticipated. Additionally, Hong Kong-based concern, CK Life Sciences, unveiled preclinical results for CKBP-002, a new inhibitor of the Stat-3 transcription factor via the c-Raf/Mek/Erk pathway, which has potential in leukaemia. Several novel formulations of established anticancer agents were also discussed. Abraxis Bioscience uses its nanoparticle albumin (nab) technology to improve the solubility of drugs, thus removing the need for the use of toxic solvents. It revealed that it is working on a cremophor- free nab formulation of rapamycin, for which an IND has already been filed. Also aiming to improve on an exisiting therapy, Japan's Mebiopharm is using its technology to develop MBP-Y003, a transferrinconjugated liposomal formulation of methotrexate. This showed an enhanced pharmacokinetic profile and antitumour efficacy in preclinical testing. In addition, the first preclinical data was reported for a host of other agents. These included Gilead's PMEGderivative prodrug GS-9219; Amgen's AMG-655, a MAb against the TRAIL receptor 2; Chugai's TP-300, a camptothecin analogue; and two Medarex MAbs, MDX-1342 and MDX-1411, targeting CD19 and and CD70, respectively.
The centennial celebrations proved an excellent addition to this year's AACR annual meeting, boosting the atmosphere and stimulating optimism for the future of targeted cancer research. Judging from the size and scope of the meeting, including the number of novel agents and promising data presented, the AACR looks set to continue well into the future.
The 99th Annual Meeting of the AACR will be held in San Diego, CA, USA on 12th-16th April 2008.
Andrew Benson
Pharmaprojects Analyst
