At a International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San Francisco the company also presented preclinical data demonstrating that HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab) and HGS-ETR2 in combination with chemotherapy synergistically enhanced anti-tumor activity in cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile ducts).
According to scientists reviewing the data the results demonstrated that HGS- ETR1 and either co-treatment or pre-treatment with cisplatin and gemcitabine were more effective than chemotherapy or HGS-ETR1 alone. "The clinical and preclinical results presented today add to a growing body of data showing that our agonistic antibodies to TRAIL receptors 1 and 2 offer a targeted mechanism of cancer-cell death that can be administered safely in combination with a variety of proven chemotherapies," said Gilles Gallant, B. Pharm., Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical Research - Oncology, HGS. "The data suggest that both pre-treatment and co-treatment with chemotherapy may be effective approaches to the use of TRAIL receptor antibodies for the treatment of cancer." The study marks the first reported clinical trial of a TRAIL receptor 2 agonist in combination with chemotherapy, 41 patients with a wide range of solid malignancies received HGS-ETR2 plus a full-dose regimen of chemotherapy. The results showed that HGS-ETR2 in combination with full-dose chemotherapy was generally safe and well tolerated. Overall, the nature and severity of adverse reactions in two patients were consistent with the underlying disease and known safety profile of the chemotherapeutic regimens. Norma Lynn Fox, Ph.D., Senior Director, Clinical Research, HGS says, "The results of the Phase 1b study of HGS-ETR2 show that it is well tolerated and can be repetitively administered in combination with standard chemotherapy agents in patients with a variety of advanced solid malignances." She goes on to say, "We were encouraged by the observation of objective responses in two patients and stable disease in more than 20 patients, a number of whom remained on treatment for more than five months before progression of disease.
