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news.Australia-based CSL has reported that its novel monoclonal antibody demonstrated promising pre-clinical activity in the potential treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.
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Two central experiments were undertaken; firstly human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells were treated with the drug, 7G3, and then injected into the mice, which were compared with a control group of mice injected with untreated AML stem cells. The overall survival of treated engrafted mice was significantly improved with the median survival of control group 11.5 weeks versus 24 weeks for the antibody-treated group.
Secondly, 7G3 was administered to mice with established AML. Administration of the antibody to these mice reduced AML dissemination around the body of the mice. The ability of leukemic stem cells (LSC) from mice treated in this way to reestablish leukemia as secondary transplants into other animals was markedly reduced. In contrast, exposure to 7G3 had little effect on normal human bone marrow stem cells.
Richard Lock, key investigator of the study, said: “This is a very exciting finding because it is one of the first drugs that has been designed to specifically target the LSC, rather than simply attacking the cancer cells proliferating in the blood and bone marrow.”