Genta Tests Drug Targeting Cancer Gene

U.S. firm Genta said Friday it has begun a phase 1 study of a new cancer drug that targets a key gene in cancer cell growth.

The investigational therapy — dubbed G4460 — uses antisense technology to target an oncogene called c-myb that is responsible for regulating key functions in cancer cells.

The study — to be conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia — is designed to assess appropriate dosing, safety, biologic activity, and down-regulation of the gene c-myb in patients with advanced hematologic cancers.

The c-myb proto-oncogene regulates a number of proteins that are critical for growth of cancer cells, Alan Gewirtz, professor of medicine and pathology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said in a statement issued by the company. Preclinical studies have shown that disruption of c-myb has antitumor effects, and this new trial seeks to evaluate whether these effects can be translated into an effective therapeutic strategy for patients.