A Combination of TH-302 and Radiation Reduced Human Pancreatic Tumor Growth in Hypoxic Xenografts

• High levels of hypoxia in xenografted pancreatic tumors predict aggressive growth and enhanced metastatic potential.
• Treatment efficacy of the hypoxia-targeting prodrug TH-302 depended on level of hypoxia and tumor growth rate.
• Results provide additional rationale for ongoing clinical trials with TH-302.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. — A combination of the prodrug TH-302 and radiation may provide an effective treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer, according to preclinical results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held here June 18-21.

“We found that the combination of TH-302 and ionizing radiation reduced pancreatic tumor growth in hypoxic xenografts,” said Ines Lohse, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the Ontario Cancer Institute at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada. “The response we observed depended on the magnitude of tumor hypoxia and the tumor growth rate.

“We have previously shown that hypoxia in our patient-derived pancreatic tumor models correlates with aggressive growth and a high metastatic potential, meaning if a tumor shows high levels of hypoxia, it will grow faster and is more likely to metastasize,” Lohse said.

All solid tumors contain areas of low oxygen tension (that is, regions of hypoxia). Cancer cells in these areas are less responsive to standard cancer chemo- and radiotherapy. Researchers hypothesize that drugs that can specifically target these regions will increase primary tumor treatment responses and prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. One strategy under investigation is to use therapies that are toxic only under hypoxic conditions, for example, prodrugs that are converted to their active form by hypoxia.

In preclinical models of pancreatic cancer, Lohse and colleagues tested TH-302, a tumor-selective, hypoxia-activated, cytotoxic prodrug that specifically targets the areas of extreme hypoxia found in solid tumors. Using seven patient-derived pancreatic tumor models grown in immune-compromised mice, they assessed the efficacy of treatment with TH-302 alone, ionizing radiation alone or a combination of the two, wherein the mice received three 50 mg/kg doses of the drug and ionizing radiation on three consecutive days.

The combination treatment reduced tumor growth in high and medium hypoxic xenografts; however, the combination had little effect on tumor growth in low- or nonhypoxic implants. Treatment efficacy depended on the extent of tumor hypoxia and tumor growth rate.

“We were expecting that hypoxia would be a strong predictor of treatment efficacy,” Lohse said. “But in our models, we actually showed that hypoxia is not the only predictor. Tumor growth rates are equally important in predicting treatment efficacy.

“Our results strongly support the ongoing clinical trials of TH-302,” said Lohse. “In these trials, TH-302 is being tested in combination with chemotherapy, and one combination has, in fact, been recently reported to prolong progression-free survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. We hope that our data might lead to TH-302 being tested in combination with ionizing radiation as an alternative treatment option for pancreatic cancer.”

# # #

Follow the AACR on Twitter: @aacr #aacr
Follow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org

About the AACR

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR’s membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.  

For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

Media Contact:
Jeremy Moore
(215) 446-7109
Jeremy.Moore@aacr.org
In Lake Tahoe, June 18-20:
(775) 886-6820

Advertisement