Latest Therapy Shows Promise in Preventing Cancer Relapse and Graft-versus-Host Disease After Stem Cell Transplant

A new treatment regimen combining the targeted therapy VIC-1911 with standard post-transplant care is demonstrating promising results in reducing the risk of cancer relapse and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following donor stem cell transplants, according to a phase 1 clinical trial led by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Understanding Stem Cell Transplants and Their Challenges

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation, a treatment option for leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers or disorders, involves receiving blood stem cells from a donor. While potentially curative, this procedure carries the risk of GVHD, a life-threatening condition where the donor’s immune cells attack the patient’s body. Conversely, suppressing the immune system to prevent GVHD can weaken the ability of the donor cells to fight the cancer – a beneficial effect known as the graft-versus-tumor effect.

VIC-1911: Targeting Aurora Kinase A for Improved Outcomes

The clinical trial, highlighted in Blood Advances, investigated the addition of VIC-1911 to the standard post-transplant regimen of cyclophosphamide and sirolimus. VIC-1911 is an oral selective inhibitor of Aurora kinase A (AURKA), an oncogenic protein that can promote cancer cell proliferation and drug resistance when overexpressed VITRAC Therapeutics.

Key Findings of the Phase 1 Trial

Results from the phase 1 trial indicate a favorable safety profile and promising outcomes:

• No patients experienced disease recurrence one year after transplantation, compared to a relapse rate of up to 22% in patients receiving cyclophosphamide and sirolimus alone.
• No patients developed grade 3 or 4 acute GVHD within 180 days of transplantation.
• The rate of moderate or severe chronic GVHD was low, affecting 6% of patients.

How VIC-1911 Works

Laboratory research has shown that combining sirolimus and VIC-1911 can improve GVHD prevention. VIC-1911 works by blocking H3ser10 phosphorylation in CD4+ T cells, effectively inhibiting Aurora kinase A ASH Publications.

Expert Perspectives

“This study addresses the biggest challenge that persists in our field: relapse,” said Dr. Shernan Holtan, Chief of Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Roswell Park. “It is notable that the relapse prevention intervention tested in this study, the utilize of VIC-1911, too appears to play a role in preventing GVHD.”

Dr. Brian Betts, Vice Chair of Strategic Initiatives for Transplant and Cellular Therapy at Roswell Park, added that it was an honor to translate laboratory breakthroughs into a promising phase 1 study.

Looking Ahead

The Roswell Park team, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Minnesota, the National Cancer Institute, the Georgia Blood and Marrow Transplant Group, and VITRAC Therapeutics, continues to investigate the potential of VIC-1911 to improve outcomes for patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in larger clinical trials.

For more information about Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, visit www.roswellpark.org or call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355).