PI3K-ALK-HSP90 Journal Watch

Recent highlights from the scientific literature related to a few of my favorite oncology clinical targets: PI3K, HSP90, and ALK... The Structural Basis of PI3K Cancer Mutations: From Mechanism to Therapy.Liu S, Knapp S, Ahmed AA.AbstractWhile genetic alteration in the p85α-p110α (PI3K) complex represents one of the most frequent driver mutations...

Feb 2014

Ganetespib follow-up: Notes from SNTA 3q-2013 earnings call

See my recent notes from the Synta presentation of updates ganetespib data at WCLC. Here are more notes from the earnings webcast:Cost of an extra oncology phase 3 patient is $30-40k = so $6-8m for added 200 pts to GALAXY-2no update on phase 3 enrollment statuspartnership discussions are "advanced"HDC platform: file an IND within 12-14 months (IND enabling...

Jan 2014

Debio0932 updates from CRIS conference call

Curis $CRIS held in 3q-2013 conference call on November 6 and offered the following updates on their HSP90 inhibitor Debio0932 partnered with Debiopharm.Conference call transcript excerpts c/o SeekingAlpha but have been edited for accuracy. Regarding Debio 0932, I'll give you an update now. We continue to be impressed with our partner, Debiopharm's...

Jan 2014

Recent ALK/EGFR/HSP90 papers of interest

Dual ALK and EGFR inhibition targets a mechanism of acquired resistance to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib in ALK rearranged lung cancerWagner AJ, Chugh R, Rosen LS, Morgan JA, George S, Gordon M, Dunbar J, Normant E, Grayzel D, Demetri GD.INTRODUCTION:The multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) crizotinib is active against ALK translocated...

Jan 2014

ARIA: Recent comments on AP26113 ALK inhibitor

Conference call excerpts from the Ariad Pharma $ARIA 3q-2013 earnings call c/o SeekingAlpha. For 113, we will focus only on ALK-positive lung cancer, both treatment-naive and resistant and those with CNS activity. We will no longer enroll EGFR, T790M, ROS1 or other patients in the ongoing Phase I/II trial. The pivotal registration trial of 113...

Jan 2014

Archive: key tables from recent SNTA data release

See below for a couple of key data slides from the recent Synta Pharma $SNTA update on the ganetespib GALAXY-1 trial in NSCLC. If you missed them, see my recent posts with notes from the data webcast and earnings conference call.

Jan 2014

Recent ALK/ROS papers of interest

Foretinib is a potent inhibitor of oncogenic ROS1 fusion proteins.Davare MA, Saborowski A, Eide CA, Tognon C, Smith RL, Elferich J, Agarwal A, Tyner JW, Shinde UP, Lowe SW, Druker BJ.The rapidly growing recognition of the role of oncogenic ROS1 fusion proteins in the malignant transformation of multiple cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma,...

Jan 2014

ALK/EGFR/HSP90 Journal Watch

Biopsy and Mutation Detection Strategies in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.Jung CY.Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2013 Nov;75(5):181-187. Epub 2013 Nov 29.AbstractThe emergence of new therapeutic agents for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) implies that histologic subtyping and molecular predictive testing are now essential for therapeutic decisions. Histologic...

Jan 2014

ALK / HSP90 Journal Watch

The Central Nervous System as a Sanctuary Site in ALK-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Dec;8(12):1570-3. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0000000000000029.Gainor JF, Ou SH, Logan J, Borges LF, Shaw AT.AbstractAnaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements define a distinct molecular subset of non-small-cell lung cancer that is highly responsive...

Jan 2014

HSP90/HSP27 Journal Watch: 4 new articles

Overcoming Acquired BRAF Inhibitor Resistance in Melanoma via Targeted Inhibition of Hsp90 with Ganetespib.Acquaviva J, Smith DL, Jimenez JP, Zhang C, Sequeira M, He S, Sang J, Bates RC, Proia DA.Mol Cancer Ther. 2014 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print]AbstractActivating BRAF kinase mutations serve as oncogenic drivers in over half of all melanomas, a feature...

Jan 2014