title: Potential therapeutic applications of oblimersen in CLL.
abstract: Bcl-2 protein is upregulated in a wide variety of lymphoid malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The protein is thought to be responsible for maintaining the viability of malignant lymphoid cells and may contribute to chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance. Previous studies have shown that reduction of bcl-2 expression by antisense therapy sensitizes cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. In vitro, the Bcl-2 antisense drug oblimersen sodium (Genasense, previously known as G3139) enhances the apoptotic response in CLL cells to fludarabine (Fludara), corticosteroids, alemtuzumab (Campath), and rituximab (Rituxan). A phase I trial in patients with refractory/relapsed CLL showed that patients with CLL were more sensitive to oblimersen than patients with solid tumors. The maximum tolerated oblimersen dose was 3 mg/kg/d, and the most common dose-limiting reaction was hypotension, frequently in association with high spiking fever. In this study, oblimersen displayed limited single-agent activity, including tumor lysis syndrome, transient decreases in circulating CLL cells, and reduction of splenomegaly and size of lymph nodes. Major responses were observed in 9% of patients. Subsequently, a phase III trial evaluating fludarabine and cyclophosphamide with or without oblimersen (3 mg/kg/d for 7 days) was initiated in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL. This trial recently completed accrual of 241 patients.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Argentino de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento, Buenos Aires, Argentina. bkoziner47@aol.com
authors.forename: Benjamín
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koziner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013873:Thionucleotides; C408162:oblimersen