VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center enrolls patients in global trial of T-cell lymphoma

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center is the first U.S. site to enroll patients in a global trial of first-in-class therapy for skin-related T-cell lymphoma -- a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can become cancerous, according to officials.

“This trial reflects Massey’s long-standing commitment to translating basic science discoveries into innovative treatments that can directly benefit patients,” said Said Sebti, Ph.D., associate director for basic research at Massey and professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the VCU School of Medicine.

He is the co-inventor of PTX-100, the first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of geranylgeranyl transferase -- an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a geranylgeranyl group to proteins.

Said Sebti (Photo: VCU Massey Cancer Center)

The Phase 2a global trial will enroll patients with skin-affecting T-cell lymphoma in the U.S., Australia and Europe.

"As a cancer researcher, there is no greater fulfillment than seeing a therapy you co-invented in the laboratory begin to reach those who need it most. With the launch of this global Phase 2 trial of PTX-100 in CTCL, where new treatments are urgently needed, that long-held dream feels deeply real. To see my academic home, Massey, lead the way as the first U.S. site to open enrollment to this trial, is one of the most exhilarating and humbling moments of my career, and is a powerful reminder of what science can achieve when driven by purpose and passion." Said Sebti

Phase 1 reportedly focused on two separate designations: one that focused on a special status granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to drugs intended to treat, diagnose or prevent rare diseases, and another for a way to expedite how new drugs may address unmet medical needs.

"This global Phase 2a clinical trial of PTX-100 will help provide an extension of care for our patients diagnosed with this rare cancer, for which new therapies are urgently needed," Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at Massey said. "We are incredibly proud of Dr. Sebti and his team for bridging the gap between world-class scientific innovation and the communities we serve, ultimately making significant strides in the fight against cancer."

The center said the enzyme plays an important role in cancer biology, as Sebti and his colleagues have created these inhibitors, which aim to induce programmed cell death and stop tumor growth in multiple cancer models.