Report Shows Correlations of Genasense Levels in AML, Prostate Cancer

Genta has announced publication of a new clinical pharmacologic study using Genasense (oblimersen sodium) injection, the company's lead anticancer compound, in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML).

In this study, data showed a correlation between the levels of Genasense achieved within cancer cells and a decrease in Bcl-2, the molecular target of Genasense therapy. The results were published by a team of investigators headed by Guido Marcucci at Ohio State University.

The findings have been extended into two ongoing, randomized, clinical trials. In the first study, Genta is collaborating under a cooperative research and development agreement with the NIH's National Cancer Institute, which is sponsoring the Cancer and Leukemia Group B in a randomized Phase III trial of approximately 400 patients with previously untreated AML who receive daunorubicin plus cytosine arabinoside with or without Genasense.

In the second study, the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer is evaluating docetaxel with or without Genasense in a randomized Phase II trial of approximately 100 patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer who have not previously received chemotherapy.