The US dose finding study for PCK3145, Procyon’s non-toxic therapeutic peptide for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, is going well. With four patients remaining to be enrolled in the study, PCK3145 is found to be very well tolerated in all patients treated so far. No side effects have been noted and the data suggests that there is again an impact on the metastatic enzyme, MMP-9 (Matrix Metalloproteinase-9), plasma levels.
The objective of the study is to assess the optimal dose and schedule for PCK3145. Two cohorts of ten patients each are receiving either 7.5mg/m2 two times per week or15mg/m2 once a week. Patients are treated for 4 weeks followed by a two week non treatment period. Assessments of treatment reaction are made several times during the treatment period and again a couple of weeks after.
PCK3145 is a synthetic 15-mer peptide that is derived from the natural sequence of amino acids of the prostate secretory protein (PSP94), one of three predominant proteins found in human seminal fluid. PSP94 expression in the prostate is down regulated in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and believed to be a survival mechanism for the cancer cells.
“We are very pleased with our experience with PCK3145 to date, a novel drug in our hands showing a rapid onset of action,” said Dr Susan Slovin, principal investigator for the study at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New-York. “Our ‘star’ patient who enrolled into the study with metastatic prostate cancer to the bone and lymph nodes is undergoing his 4th cycle of treatment and continues to show both a stable PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) and scans, a very encouraging result.”