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Research Articles: Therapeutics, Targets, and Development

Preclinical profile of antitumor activity of a novel hydrophilic camptothecin, ST1968

¹ Sigma-Tau, Pomezia, Italy; ² Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy; ³ DISMA, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy; ⁴ Università di Science Gastronomiche, Pollensa, Cuneo, Italy; and ⁵ Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy

Requests for reprints: Franco Zunino, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy. Phone: 39-2-23902267; Fax: 39-2-23902692. E-mail: franco.zunino{at}istitutotumori.mi.it

Abstract

ST1968 is a novel hydrophilic camptothecin (CPT) derivative of the 7-oxyiminomethyl series. Because ST1968 retained ability to form remarkably stable cleavable complexes, this study was done to investigate its preclinical profile of antitumor activity in a large panel of human tumor models, including irinotecan-resistant tumors. Although less potent than SN38 in vitro, i.v. administered ST1968 caused a marked tumor inhibition, superior to that of irinotecan, in most tested models. ST1968 exhibited an impressive activity against several tumors including models of ovarian and colon carcinoma in which a high rate of cures was observed. In the most responsive tumors, complete and persistent tumor regressions were achieved even with low suboptimal doses. Even tumors derived from intrinsically resistant cells exhibited a significant responsiveness. Histologic analysis of treated tumors supports a contribution of both proapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects to ST1968 antitumor efficacy. A study done in yeast cells transformed with CPT-resistant mutant forms of topoisomerase I documented that, in contrast to other tested CPT, ST1968 was active against yeasts expressing the mutant K720E enzyme. Based on its outstanding efficacy superior to that of irinotecan and of its good therapeutic index, ST1968 has been selected for clinical development. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(7):2051–9]

Grant support: Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (Milan) and Ministero della Salute (Rome, Italy).

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

⁶ In preparation.

Received 3/18/08; revised 5/15/08; accepted 5/20/08.