Lorus' antisense drug decreases R2 expression in breast cancer clinical study

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., April 18 - Lorus Therapeutics Inc. said a rapid, dramatic reduction in expression of the gene for the R2 component of ribonucleotide reductase was demonstrated in tumor biopsy tissue following treatment with its antisense drug GTI-2040 in combination with capecitabine.

The data, from a phase 2 breast cancer clinical trial, was published in the May issue of Oncology Reports, according to a company news release.

The publication describes a method to measure ribonucleotide reductase R2 (also known as M2), frequently over-expressed in cancer cells and the molecular target of GTI-2040 therapy.

An approximately 25-fold decrease in R2 was seen one day after the start of GTI-2040 treatment, Lorus said. Evaluation of additional patient biopsies is continuing in the ongoing study.

"This case study showing down regulation of target gene expression by GTI-2040 in both tumor tissue responding to treatment and in leukocytes as a surrogate tissue is highly encouraging," chief executive officer Jim Wright said in the release.

"This is the first data in breast cancer patients demonstrating target specific down regulation by GTI-2040."

Lorus is a Toronto-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of cancer therapies.

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