The NCCN Oncology Research Program has awarded three research grants to investigate the safety and effectiveness of volasertib in hematologic malignancies.
FORT WASHINGTON, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Oncology Research Program (ORP) has awarded three grants to investigators from NCCN Member Institutions to scientifically evaluate and define the safety and clinical effectiveness of the investigational compound volasertib in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. These grants are made possible through funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Inc.
“This award allows researchers from three NCCN Member Institutions to focus on clinical evaluation of this novel Polo-like kinase inhibitor,” said Robert C. Young, MD, Interim Vice President, NCCN ORP. “We are grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to advance clinical research and improve the lives of people with cancer.”
The following proposals have been awarded funding:
Volasertib is an investigational compound that inhibits enzymes called Polo-like kinase (PLK). PLK1 is the best characterized kinase of the PLK family. PLK1 regulates cell division (mitosis). This inhibition can result in prolonged cell cycle arrest, ultimately leading to cell death (apoptosis).1 Volasertib is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
The awardees responded to a Request for Proposals issued by the NCCN ORP to the 26 NCCN Member Institutions. Submissions were peer reviewed by the NCCN Volasertib Scientific Review Committee. The funded concepts were selected based on several criteria, including scientific merit, existing data, and the types of studies necessary to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of volasertib.
The NCCN ORP draws on the expertise of the investigators of NCCN Member Institutions and NCCN Affiliate Research Consortium (ARC) to facilitate all phases of clinical research. This research is made possible by collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in order to advance therapeutic options for patients with cancer.
For more information about NCCN ORP, visit NCCN.org/ORP.
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1 Döhner, H. Randomized, phase 2 trial of low-dose cytarabine with or without volasertib in AML patients not suitable for induction therapy. Blood. 2014. 124 (9) 1426-1433.
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