Canwell Biotech Ltd. has described tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 (PTPN11; PTP-2C; SHP-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Overexpression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been observed in several types of cancer, including gastric, esophageal and colorectal cancers. Several FAK inhibitors have advanced to clinical evaluation for the treatment of cancer, however, none have entered the market.
Esophageal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (EBSCC) is a rare type of esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) characterized by basaloid features and considered to be more aggressive than ESCC. RNA sequencing was performed from 20 pure EBSCC and 11 poorly differentiated ESCC samples; researchers identified chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4) as a potential marker of EBSCC at the mRNA level, which was verified by immunohistochemistry in these same samples.
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for about 90% of esophageal cancer cases and is the sixth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Targeting cancer stem cells offers a therapeutic approach for addressing cancer, concretely in those cases that are resistant to cisplatin.
Elevation Oncology Inc. has nixed its lead pipeline product, a claudin 18.2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) called EO-3021, on disappointing phase I data, sending shares tumbling by 42% and placing its preclinical HER3 ADC to the forefront of development.
Lirum Therapeutics Inc. has presented data regarding their insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) antagonist LX-101, which couples an IGF-1 variant to a cytotoxic methotrexate payload. The antitumoral activity of LX-101 was investigated in Ewing sarcoma and desmoplastic small round cell tumor.
Xilio Therapeutics Inc. has announced three wholly owned preclinical programs for masked T-cell engagers targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) and six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 1 (STEAP1).
Wall Street apparently wanted more from Prelude Therapeutics Inc.’s phase I data with SMARCA2 enzyme degrader PRT-3789 in cancer, which rolled out Sept. 13 during the recent European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona, but hopes are still high for other prospects in the class pushed forward by various developers.
Lest there’s any confusion, Lucid Diagnostics Inc. published promising results from a third study showing the benefit of its non-invasive Esoguard test for detecting esophageal cancer and precancer conditions.
Closely watched-for phase I data from Elevation Oncology Inc. in the Claudin 18.2 space sent shares of the Boston-based firm (NASDAQ:ELEV) down 63%, or $1.35, to close Aug. 6 at 78 cents. Elevation provided initial data from the dose-escalation portion of the ongoing experiment with antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) EO-3021 in patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic solid tumors likely to express Claudin 18.2, including gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), pancreatic or esophageal cancers.
