The following data were presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in San Francisco.

• Aeterna Zentaris Inc., of Quebec City, presented a poster showing that AEZS-137 (disorazol Z) demonstrated cytotoxicity in a highly diverse panel of 60 different tumor cell lines. Preclinical data were identified as a tubulin-binding agent, and a cell cycle analysis revealed that disorazol Z arrested cells in the G2/M phase and subsequently induced apoptosis, as shown by subnanomolar EC50 values.

• Curis Inc., of Lexington, Mass., reported preclinical data showing that CUDC-907, a small-molecule inhibitor designed to target both PI3K and HDAC, had broad activity in hematologic cancer models. The company said it anticipates filing an investigational new drug application during the first half of 2012.

• Nektar Therapeutics Inc., of San Francisco, presented preclinical data showing that NKTR-102, a next-generation topoisomerase I inhibitor, has strong synergistic anticancer properties when administered in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, exhibiting a 100 percent complete response rate with no tumor regrowth in more than 90 percent of animals. Data also showed no additive toxicity when combining the two drugs in a preclinical model of ovarian cancer.

• Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., of Lexington, Mass., reported data showing that elesclomol activity is selective for cancer cells and that continuous, low level infusion of the drug demonstrated single-agent anticancer activity. In vitro results showed that elesclomol caused specific and preferential accumulation of copper in cancer cell mitochondria, thereby increasing levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in tumor cells, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Elesclomol is a mitochondrial metabolism inhibitor in Phase II testing in combination with paclitaxel in ovarian cancer and in Phase I testing as a monotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia.