Report: experimental cancer drug seliciclib shrinks tumors

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. Results of a phase 1 study of an investigational cancer drug have shown tumor shrinkage in half of the patients, according to an article published in the February issue of the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

The study results, announced Thursday by manufacturer Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, showed that the nasopharyngeal cancer drug seliciclib produced tumor shrinkage – defined as a reductin of more than 25% in palpable cervical lymph nodes – in seven of 14 patients who could be evaluated.

The study, conducted at National University Hospital in Singapore, enlisted 16 patients, 13 of whom took 400 mg of seliciclib twice a day and three of whom too 800 mg twice a day. The patients taking the two 800 mg doses did not tolerate the dosage level.

While defined as a cancer of the head and neck, nasopharyngeal cancer is different from head and neck cancer and is linked to the Epstein-Barr virus, which also causes mononucleosis.