Though AML is one of the most common forms of leukemia in adults;the 5 year survival is less than 20-50% in adults and significantly lowers in the elderly. The remarkable success in treating one relatively uncommon subset of AML, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), with all trans- retinoic acid (ATRA) illustrates the great promise for differentiation therapy. Utilizing ATRA, the presumed cure of 75-85% of patients is possible but only for this rare AML subset. ATRA's remarkable success stems from the fact that AML is a disease characterized by the arrest of differentiation of immature myeloid cells. ATRA overcomes this block in differentiation by forcing leukemic cells to mature. After leukemic cells undergo terminal differentiation, they lose their ability to proliferate. We have recently found that a plant-derived alkaloid holds promise as an AML therapeutic for non-APL leukemia due to its ability to induce potent AML differentiation. The major aims of this phase II project are to perform preclinical efficacy and toxicity studies in order to develop our optimized form of this plant-derived alkaloid into a clinical agent. As differentiation therapies are able to treat leukemia without the necessity for overt cytotoxicity, this work has the potential to lead to much needed more efficacious, less toxic, and better tolerated therapy for patients with AML.

Public Health Relevance

This project is highly relevant to public health as its main objective is to develop a novel therapeutic regimen for patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia that is both efficacious and has low toxicity. As current AML therapeutics has poor efficacy and high toxicities, there is a significant need for new therapies and therapeutic approaches for AML.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
5R44CA134089-03
Application #
8338881
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-OTC-T (10))
Program Officer
Haim, Todd E
Project Start
2008-04-08
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$410,512
Indirect Cost
Name
Invenio Therapeutics, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
801479333
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106