Home > Information > press release > Commencement of First-in-Human Clinical Trial for New Molecular Targeting Drug,Co-Developed with The University of Tokyo and National Cancer Center,to Treat Malignant Lymphoma (Including Adult T-cell Leukemia-Lymphoma)
Commencement of First-in-Human Clinical Trial for New Molecular Targeting Drug,Co-Developed with The University of Tokyo and National Cancer Center,to Treat Malignant Lymphoma (Including Adult T-cell Leukemia-Lymphoma)
March 22, 2016
National Cancer Center
The University of Tokyo
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited
in Japanese
Searching for an effective ATL treatment, a research group chiefly led by Professor Toshiki Watanabe and Project Research Assistant, Makoto Yamagishi, of The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, discovered an abnormal accumulation of epigenetic changes*3 due to inappropriate activation of EZH1/2 in ATL cells. Also, as ATL cells are more strongly dependent on epigenetic changes caused by EZH1/2 compared to normal cells, the research developed a new compound that simultaneously inhibits the function of both EZH1 and EZH2. This dual inhibitor reversed inappropriate methylation of histones in ATL cells and also selectively eliminated ATL cells and HTLV-1-infected immortalized cells in the peripheral blood.
Malignant lymphoma
Malignant lymphoma is the most prevalent hematologic malignancy. Malignant lymphoma is classified into Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Recent advances in the management have led to the improvement in therapeutic outcomes of patients with malignant lymphoma, especially Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.However, relapsed or refractory patients with both diseases and T-cell lymphoma patients are still of unfavorable prognosis. Among various subtypes of T-cell lymphoma, ATL is the disease caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1) with the poorest prognosis. About 1,000 patients suffer from ATL every year in Japan, where approximately 1.2 million individuals are infected by HTLV-1. The number of HTLV-1-infected individuals (carriers) is estimated to be about 10 to 20 million in the world. About 5 percent of carriers develop ATL during their lifetimes. However, no onset prevention methods or effective treatments of ATL have been established. The prognosis of ATL is very poor mainly because of the high frequency of drug resistance. As the only HTLV-1 endemic country among developed nations, the world expects Japan to lead global efforts to develop new treatments towards onset prevention and effective treatments of ATL.
Clinical trial
This Phase I is the multicenter, study conducted by the National Cancer Center Hospital (Chuo-ku, Tokyo), and other facilities in Japan.
Glossary
- *1 Phase 1 trial: Testing a new drug for the first time in humans, normally in a small group of people (healthy volunteers or patients). In phase 1 trial for cancer patients ,gradually increasing dosage is used to evaluate safety, determine safe dosage, and examine methods of administration.
- *2 Stem cells: undifferentiated cells capable of renewing themselves for long periods and maintaining the potential to develop into other types of cells. Cancer stem cells are cells capable of regenerating cancer.
- *3 Epigenetic changes: heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve change to the underlying DNA sequence. The epigenome refers to the chemical modification of the histone and DNA.
Research Funding
This study was supported in part by Acceleration Transformative research for Medical innovation program (ACT-M) from The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED); and the National Cancer Center Research and Development Fund.
Press release
Commencement of First-in-Human Clinical Trial for New Molecular Targeting Drug, Co-Developed with The University of Tokyo and National Cancer Center, to Treat Malignant Lymphoma (Including Adult T-cell Leukemia-Lymphoma) (PDF) (PDF:204KB)For clinical trial inquiries
National Cancer Center HospitalClinical Trial Coordination (&Support) Office
5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Telephone: +81-3-3542-2511
For research and development inquiries
National Cancer Center Research InstituteDivision of Hematological Malignancy
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Tel: +81-3-3547-5274
FAX: +81-3-3542-0688
The University of Tokyo
Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences,Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
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Tel: +81-3-5449-5298
FAX: +81-3-5449-5418
For media inquiries
National Cancer CenterOffice of Public Relations, Strategic Planning Bureau
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FAX:+81-3-3542-2545
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Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.
3-5-1, Nihonbashi-honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8426, JapanCorporate Communications Department
Telephone: +81-3-6225-1126