Antisoma's AS1411 impresses in AML

UK-based biopharmaceutical company Antisoma has reported positive data from a Phase II study of its DNA aptamer cancer treatment AS1411 in acute myeloid leukemia. Specifically, the results, which were announced at this year's American Society of Hematology meeting in Atlanta, showed that the drug killed AML cells with a high degree of potency, and that this was associated with down regulation of the apoptosis-blocking protein Bcl-2.

The study showed that, by targeting the messenger RNA stabilizer necleolin which helps maintain high Bcl-2 levels, AS1411 indirectly lowers Bcl-2 expression and thereby increases the likelihood of apoptosis in cancerous cells. Daniel Fernandes, who lead the group behind the ASH presentation, said: "Bcl-2 is of fundamental importance to the survival and proliferation of various cancers, and it is very interesting to see the high sensitivity of AML cells to AS1411 correlated to the drug's effect on this pathway."