Oblimersen sodium

Oblimersen sodium is a DNA antisense oligonucleotide designed to specifically bind to human bcl-2 mRNA, resulting in catalytic degradation of bcl-2. This results in decreased translation of the protein Bcl-2, which is a cellular antiapoptotic protein. Thus, oblimersen enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy by shifting the intracellular balance to a state in which the cells are more likely to be killed by apoptosis. Currently, it is used in combination chemotherapy for treating advanced melanoma. 

Moore J, Seiter K, Kolitz J et al (2006) A Phase II study of Bcl-2 antisense (oblimersen sodium) combined with gemtuzumab ozogamicin in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse. Leuk Res 30(7) 777-783... 

O Brien S, Moore JO, Boyd TE et al (2007) Randomized phase III trial of fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide with or without oblimersen sodium (Bcl-2 antisense) in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. J Clin Oncol 25(9) 1114-1120... 

Tolcher A W, Chi K, et al. (2005). A phase II, pharmacokinetic, and biological correlative study of oblimersen sodium and docetaxel in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Clin. Cancer Res. 11 3854-3861. 

Marcucci G, Stock W, et al. (2005). Phase I study of oblimersen sodium, an antisense to Bcl-2, in untreated older patients with acute myeloid leukemia Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity. J. Clin. Oncol. 23 3404-3411. 

Bedikian AY, Millward M, Pehamberger H et al. Bcl-2 antisense (oblimersen sodium) plus dacarbazine in patients with advanced melanoma The Oblimersen Melanoma Study. J Clin Oncol 2006 24 4738 745. 

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