Leap Therapeutics announced an investigator-initiated study led by David R. Wise, M.D., Ph.D. of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health to study DKN-01, as a monotherapy and in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced prostate cancer. This clinical trial is specifically targeting a biomarker-selected patient population in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with elevated Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) levels.

"DKK1 can promote prostate cancer growth through suppressing the anti-tumor immune response. We have discovered that DKK1 is upregulated in the substantial portion of advanced prostate cancers that lack expression of androgen receptor," said Dr. Wise. "Patients with this type of  prostate cancer have a very poor prognosis and may benefit from this new immunotherapy strategy targeting DKK1 therapy with DKN-01."

"An important part of our DKN-01 development strategy is to target biomarker-selected patient populations," said Cynthia Sirard, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development of Leap Therapeutics. "In our esophagogastric cancer study, we have identified DKK1 levels measured by RNAScope as a potential predictor of response to DKN-01-based therapy. We are looking forward to treating mCRPC patients with elevated DKK1 levels in this study, building on our and Dr. Wise's work."

The study is expected to begin enrolling patients in the first quarter of 2019.  mCRPC patients who have progressed on one or more androgen receptor (AR) therapies (Xtandi or Zytiga) will be screened for DKK1 elevation in their plasma or in a tumor sample. Up to 97 patients will be enrolled in a dose-escalation and then dose expansion cohorts. DKK1+ mCRPC patients who have not received prior taxane chemotherapies will be treated with DKN-01 and docetaxel. DKN-01 will be given as a monotherapy to DKK1+ mCRPC patients who have progressed on or refused docetaxel treatment.

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