This study considers the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of CX-4945 in
combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)
and the recommended Phase II dose (RP2D), followed by a randomized study that compares
antitumor activity in cholangiocarcinoma patients receiving the standard of care
gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus CX-4945 at the combination RP2D with gemcitabine plus
cisplatin.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT02128282.
Protein kinase CK2 is a constitutively active serine/threonine kinase with a long history
as a pro-survival, anti-apoptotic kinase. Given the wide spread overexpression of CK2 in
multiple cancers and its role in multiple non-oncogenic processes required to sustain the
cancer phenotype, a selective inhibitor of CK2 is an attractive targeted approach to
treating cancer.
CX-4945 is a tetracyclic, small molecule carboxylate acid salt that exhibits potent and
highly selective inhibition of CK2. Protein kinase CK2 is also known to play an important
role in the DNA damage repair mechanisms of cancer cells, and this study of CX-4945 in
combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin will determine if inhibition of CK2, in
conjunction with the use of chemotherapy drugs, will result in improved clinical outcomes
for patients with non-resectable cholangiocarcinoma.
Lead OrganizationSenhwa Biosciences, Inc.