Current study results from the report, 'Open-label, clinical phase I studies of tasquinimod in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer,' have been published. According to recent research published in the British Journal of Cancer, "Tasquinimod is a quinoline-3-carboxamide derivative with anti-angiogenic activity. Two open-label phase I clinical trials in patients were conducted to evaluate the safety and tolerability of tasquinimod, with additional pharmacokinetic and efficacy assessments."

"Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer with no previous chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The patients received tasquinimod up to 1 year either at fixed doses of 0.5 or 1.0 mg per day or at an initial dose of 0.25 mg per day that escalated to 1.0 mg per day. A total of 32 patients were enrolled; 21 patients were maintained for >or=4 months. The maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 0.5 mg per day; but when using stepwise intra-patient dose escalation, a dose of 1.0 mg per day was well tolerated. The dose-limiting toxicity was sinus tachycardia and asymptomatic elevation in amylase. Common treatment-emergent adverse events included transient laboratory abnormalities, anaemia, nausea, fatigue, myalgia and pain. A serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline of >orP% was noted in two patients. The median time to PSA progression (>25%) was 19 weeks. Only 3 out of 15 patients (median time on study: 34 weeks) developed new bone lesions," wrote O. Bratt and colleagues, Lund University, Department of Urology (see also Prostate Cancer).

The researchers concluded: "Long-term continuous oral administration of tasquinimod seems to be safe, and the overall efficacy results indicate that tasquinimod might delay disease progression."

Bratt and colleagues published their study in British Journal of Cancer (Open-label, clinical phase I studies of tasquinimod in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 2009;101(8):1233-40).

For additional information, contact O. Bratt, Helsingborg Hospital, Dept. of Urology, Lund University, SE-25187 Helsingborg, Sweden.

The publisher's contact information for the British Journal of Cancer is: Nature Publishing Group, 345 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1707, USA.

Keywords: Sweden, Helsingborg, Angiogenesis, Chemotherapy, Clinical Trial Research, Drug Resistance, Drug Therapy, Drugs, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacokinetics, Prostate Cancer, Prostatic Neoplasms, Therapies, Treatment, Tumor Vascularization, Urology.

This article was prepared by Angiogenesis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Angiogenesis Weekly via NewsRx.com.

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