title: Application of XIAP antisense to cancer and other proliferative disorders: development of AEG35156/ GEM640.
abstract: Targeting apoptosis control provides a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. We summarize the evidence for apoptosis deregulation in cancer and describe the pivotal role of XIAP, the X-linked Inhibitor-of-APoptosis. XIAP is the predominant inhibitor of caspases 3, 7 and 9 in cells, which suppresses the programmed cell death effector capability of these proteases. Evidence is presented validating XIAP as a cancer target. The inhibition or downregulation of XIAP in cancer cells lowers the apoptotic threshold, thereby inducing cell death and/or enhancing the cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutic agents. We describe the development of AEG35156 (also named GEM640), a second generation antisense compound targeting XIAP, from concept to in vivo preclinical proof-of-principle studies, through formal toxicology, and to a phase 1 clinical trial in cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Aegera Therapeutics Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3E 1A8.
authors.forename: Eric C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lacasse
authors.forename: Ekambar R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kandimalla
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Winocour
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gillard
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C498209:AEG 35156; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein