The following information came from the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Washington.

• AngioChem Inc., of Montreal, presented preclinical data on ANG1005 and ANG1007, two cancer drugs that target the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein pathway. ANG1005 was effectively transported into glioblastoma cells, while ANG1007 achieved greater penetration of doxorubicin to the brain and cancer cells than native doxorubicin.

• Basilea Pharmaceutica AG, of Basel, Switzerland, presented preclinical data showing that BAL101553, a small molecule that disrupts the intracellular microtubule network, showed activity in a wide range of cancer types.

• Cellceutix Corp., of Beverly, Mass., presented preclinical data showing the dose-dependent efficacy of Kevetrin in drug-resistant lung cancer, as well as encouraging data in breast and colon cancer. A second cycle of the drug delayed lung tumor growth without the development of resistance. Kevetrin is a small molecule with antiangiogenic and other mechanisms.

• Celldex Therapeutics Inc., of Needham, Mass., presented preclinical data on anti-CD27 antibody CDX-1127, which enhanced antigen-specific T-cell activation and inhibited tumor growth.

• Cleveland BioLabs Inc., of Buffalo, N.Y., presented preclinical data revealing the mechanism of action of the firm's Curaxins, which simultaneously target p53 and NF-kappaB.

• Curis Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., presented preclinical data on CU-906, a dual HDAC and PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. The compound exhibits antitumor activity against a broad range of cancers and is orally bioavailable with a long half-life.

• Dendreon Corp., of Seattle, presented additional data from the Phase III IMPACT (IMmunotherapy for Prostate AdenoCarcinoma Treatment) trial showing evidence of immune responses in patients treated with Provenge (sipuleucel-T) and supporting its proposed mechanism of action. Data presented from 237 patients showed that Provenge generated antigen-specific responses, including responses to prostatic acid phosphatase, an antigen expressed in prostate cancer tissue, that were not seen following treatment with placebo. They also showed that Provenge triggered both cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo that were first detected at six weeks after dosing and persisted at 26 weeks after dosing.

• Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., presented preclinical data on three antibodies (epratuzumab [anti-CD22], veltuzumab [anti-CD20] and IMMU-114 [anti-HLA-DR]), each linked to a ribonuclease to enhance potency. IMMU-114-Rap was most potent in lymphoma and leukemia cell lines, correlating to antigen density. Immunomedics also created a Rap conjugate of hRS7, an anti-TROP-2 antibody, which was potent in several solid tumor cell lines.

• Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., presented preclinical data demonstrating that Hedgehog pathway inhibitor IPI-926 delays tumor re-growth in prostate and lung cancer models. Additionally, Infinity started a Phase Ib/II trial of the drug plus gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer.

• Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., said final Phase I data confirmed cancer drug bavituximab was well tolerated. Additionally, preclinical prostate cancer data showed a survival time of 15 days for the phosphatidylserine-targeting antibody 1N11 plus androgen deprivation therapy compared to five days for ADT alone. A third presentation highlighted the potential of a phosphatidylethanolamine-targeting peptide in tumor imaging.

• PharmaMar, of Madrid, Spain, presented data from six new trials with marine-based antitumor drugs that included Yondelis (trabectedin), a marine-based antitumor drug currently produced by chemical synthesis, which has European Commission approval for advanced and metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and for recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer in combination with Doxil/Caelyx. Various in vitro trials have shown that trabectedin's activity depends at least partly on the nucleotide excision repair mechanism. New data suggested that overexpression of the wild-type ERCC5 gene may be a predictor of beneficial effects of trabectedin in patients with advanced STS. Three other trials presented new data on Irvalec, a marine-based synthetic depsipeptide currently in Phase II trials for lung cancer.

• Seattle Genetics Inc., of Bothell, Wash., presented screening data on its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and sugar-engineered antibody technologies. The firm also revealed the mechanism of action of SGN-75, an ADC in Phase I trials for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma. In a separate presentation, Seattle Genetics and Santa Monica, Calif.-based Agensys Inc. presented data showing the ADC ASG-5ME had potent and long-lasting antitumor activity in preclinical prostate and pancreatic cancer models.

• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Irvine, Calif., presented preclinical data indicating HDAC inhibitor belinostat, currently in a pivotal trial for peripheral T-cell lymphoma, may also be applicable in small-cell lung cancer. The data showed belinostat synergized with DNA damaging chemotherapy agents, creating an additive effect if the HDAC inhibitors were given first and an antagonistic effect in the DNA damaging agents were given first.

• The Polaris Group, of San Diego, presented data showing that a deficiency in the enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase causes several cancers to respond to treatment with pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20). Polaris said it is planning a Phase III trial in hepatocellular carcinoma and earlier trials in other types of cancer.