Researchers from Sweden have reported that tasquinimod, an oral analog of linomide, may have significant activity in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). The details of this study appeared in the October 13, 2009 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.[1]
Patients with HRPC with metastasis to bone have a number of treatment options, but most of these are associated with significant toxicities. Chemotherapy agents for patients with HRPC include: Taxotere® (docetaxel), Emcyt® (estramustine), Novantrone® (mitoxantrone), ixabepilone, Navelbine® (vinorelbine), and satraplatin.
Tasquinimod is an oral derivative of linomide, which was originally evaluated for treatment of prostate cancer but proved too toxic. Tasqinimod exhibits anti-angiogenic activity in in-vitro assays. In the current study, 32 patients with HRPC were treated for up to one year with tasquinimod. Dose-limiting toxicities appeared to be tachycardia and elevation in amylase. In this study a decline of PSA by more than 50% occurred in two patients. The median time to PSA progression was 19 weeks, and only three patients developed new bone lesions. These authors suggest that long-term administration of tasquinimod “might delay disease progression.”
Comments: These appear to be modest effects, but tasquinimod appears to be well tolerated. Future studies will be of interest.
Reference:
[1] Bratt O, Haggman M, Ahlgren G, et al. Open-label clinical phase I studies of tasquinimod in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. British Journal of Cancer. 2009;101:1233-1240.
© 1998-2007 OncoEd.com All Rights Reserved.
These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. All readers should verify all information and data before administering any drug, therapy or treatment discussed herein. Neither the editors nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or consequences from the use or misuse of the information contained herein.
Patient Home
