Celgene and NCI initiate CT in brain cancer
Celgene Corporation of Warren, NJ, US, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have initiated a clinical trial with CC-8490, a new anti-cancer compound from Celgene's proprietary class of benzopyrans, being evaluated as a potential therapy for brain cancer.
Celgene Corporation of Warren, NJ, US, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have initiated a clinical trial with CC-8490, a new anti-cancer compound from Celgene's proprietary class of benzopyrans, being evaluated as a potential therapy for brain cancer.
Recently, Celgene signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to collaborate on clinical and preclinical development of CC-8490 and other agents that specifically target the destruction of brain cancer cells.
This is part of a four-year cooperative research agreement encompassing clinical and preclinical evaluation of CC-8490 in biochemical and cell based assays as well as assays directed at measuring anti-tumour effects. The goals of this research collaboration are to further examine CC-8490 and its analogs, both in vitro and in vivo studies to advance the most promising agents for use in clinical trials. Pending successful outcomes of the initial research, the NCI will conduct additional Phase I and Phase II clinical trials of CC-8490 and other benzopyrans under this CRADA.
Previously, Celgene worked with the NCI to study the potential anti-glioma activity of CC-8490 using multiple cell lines. The mechanism for this anti-tumour effect of CC-8490 may be novel and is being further explored. The NCI Chief Investigator, who will lead the pre-clinical and clinical activities under the CRADA, has extensive experience in both in vitro and in vivo evaluations of novel cytotoxic and cytostatic agents for treating primary brain tumors. The investigator will lead the pre-clinical and clinical activities under the CRADA.
About brain tumours
Primary tumors are tumours that begin in brain tissue. Primary brain tumours are named according to the type of cells or the part of the brain in which they originated. The most common primary brain tumours are gliomas. Glioma is a cancer of the brain that begins in glial cells (surround and support nerve cells). There is no exact cause of brain tumours, doctors cannot specify why one person develops a tumour and another person does not. Research illustrates that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop a tumour. The following risk factors are associated with an increased chance of developing a primary brain tumour: male gender, race, age and family history. The symptoms depend on size, type and location.