http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/135525...12_10k.htm
Since Kevetrin activates both transcription-dependent and transcription-independent pathways to promote p53 activation, Kevetrin can function as a major inducer of apoptosis in many types of tumors independent of p53 mutation status. Activation of both modes of apoptosis by Kevetrin may not be mutually exclusive. Most likely, both modes of apoptosis induction cooperate and complement each other.
Genotoxicity
Most currently available chemotherapeutic drugs are genotoxic in nature and damage DNA. A DNA damaging drug results in rapid phosphorylation of H2A.X at Ser 139 by PI3K-like kinases. Kevetrin did not induce this phosphorylation at a concentration that caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; whereas, Doxorubicin did induce the phosphorylation of H2A.X, as shown by Western blot assay. These results suggest that Kevetrin, in a non-genotoxic way, induces p53 activation.
Biomarker
In addition, we identified the increased expression of p21 as a potential biomarker in our upcoming clinical trial for Kevetrin. Based on the mechanism studies, levels of p21 were measured by qPCR in peripheral blood lymphocytes from mice treated with Kevetrin. Kevetrin significantly enhanced p21 levels compared to control which correlated with anti-tumor activity of Kevetrin.
Study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
In March 2012, Cellceutix entered into an agreement with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center(BIDMC), a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, on an innovative research project with our anti cancer compound, Kevetrin. The Medical Center wishes to exploit the nuclear and/or mitochondrial pro-apoptotic function of p53 in melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, two types of cancer that are particularly resistant to therapy. BIDMC hopes to improve therapy for melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, cancers that are particularly resistant to therapy.
BIDMC initiated combination studies with multikinase inhibitors which activate pro-apoptotic activity by translocation of p53 in mitochondria thereby inducing apoptosis. Apoptosis is enhanced by MDM2 inhibitors by stabilizing p53. As presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting in April, KevetrinphosphorylatesMDM2 which activates and stabilizes p53 by monoubiquitination inducing apoptosis. Prior data from the BIDMC laboratory showed that agents of this class can augment the pro-apoptotic and antitumor effects of MDM2 antagonists and is expected to have a synergistic effect with Kevetrin. BIDMC will test the effects of Kevetrin alone and in combination with FDA-approved VEGFR antagonists in the renal cell carcinoma and melanoma studies. In vitro study endpoints include apoptosis by measuring caspase activation and PARP cleavage. In vivo endpoints include efficacy in a xenograft model, tumor vascularity, p53 levels, p21 expression and apoptosis. This study will provide vital insight to exploit the nuclear and/or mitochondrial pro-apoptotic function by Kevetrin in combination with other multikinase inhibitors in treatment of these difficult to treat malignancies.
Phase 1 Clinical Trial at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
On June 21, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Kevetrin™, Cellceutix's novel anti-cancer compound. The Phase 1 trials are being conducted at Harvard Cancer Center's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and partner Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The clinical trial will test Kevetrin against a variety of different solid tumor cancer types in patients with advanced-stage cancers. Primary endpoints for the study will be safety, tolerable dosing levels and establishing the dose for a future Phase II clinical trial. The trial is registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01664000?term=Kevetrin&rank=1 )
