Collaborative Research Leads to New Lung Cancer Trial

Abstract: Thanks to a culture of collaboration, a discovery in the area of hypertension and vascular research at Wake Forest Baptist has led to an innovative cancer trial for advanced solid tumors.

From Clinical Update, Winter 2007

Last April, a new cancer study at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center called the Angiotensin-(1-7) clinical trial began enrolling patients with advanced solid tumors such as lung cancer. The study is the result of collaborative research among five Medical Center departments, who together translated findings from bench to bedside in just two years.

The discovery that spawned the collaboration was made in the laboratory of Patricia E. Gallagher, Ph.D., and E. Ann Tallant, Ph.D., investigators at the Wake Forest University Center for Hypertension and Vascular Research. Angiotensin- (1-7) or Ang-(1-7) is an endogenous peptide hormone that inhibits the formation of blood vessels in actively growing cells. Gallagher and Tallant’s research suggested the compound had other effects as well. In the laboratory, Ang-(1-7) slowed the growth of lung cancer cells and cells that form tumor blood vessels. When Ang-(1-7) was given to mice that had lung cancers implanted in them, the blood vessels that feed the cancers were reduced and the tumors shrank.

The team brought their findings to Hematology and Oncology Section investigators for study as a human cancer treatment drug.

“What excited us was that Ang-(1-7) was showing positive results and was proven safe for use in humans,” says Jeffrey Petty, M.D., part of the team of Hematology and Oncology Section investigators that includes Mebea Aklilu, M.D., Antonius A. Miller, M.D., Mercedes Porosnicu, M.D., and Frank M. Torti, M.D., director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

The team set about developing the protocol and securing approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for phase 1 clinical trials of Ang-(1-7) in human cancer patients. The team enrolled its first patients — individuals with advanced solid tumors such as lung cancer — in April 2007.

“As physicians, we want the best for these patients. As investigators, we want the best for the world. We are very hopeful there will be clinical value for cancer patients.

“If so, our next step is phase 2 clinical trials to test the activity of Ang-(1-7) for specific tumor types,” said Petty, an assistant professor of Internal Medicine-Hematology and Oncology.