BKT140, also known as BL-8040 and TF 14016, is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) with potential antineoplastic activity [1].
The G protein-coupled receptor CXCR4 plays an important role in chemotaxis and angiogenesis and is upregulated in several tumor cell types. CXCR4 has been involved in promoting tumor progression. CXCR4 expression is a prognostic marker in various types of cancer, such as acute myelogenous leukemia or breast carcinoma. CXCR4 acts as an important molecule involved in the spread and progression of a variety of different tumors [2].
BKT140 reduced the colony-forming capacity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Subcutaneous administration of BKT140 significantly delayed the development of H460 xenografts and showed a similar trend for A549 xenografts [1]. Pre-clinical studies in animal models with BKT140 showed a robust mobilization of white blood cells (WBC) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). BKT140 showed a direct anti-tumor effect against human-derived multiple myeloma (MM), lymphoma and primary leukemia cells and cell lines in vitro and in vivo, causing significant apoptosis [2]. BKT140 was well tolerated and rapidly absorbed in patients with multiple myeloma. BKT140 administration significantly increased the number of peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and CD34+ cells in a dose-dependent manner [3].
References:
[1] Fahham D, Weiss I D, Abraham M, et al. In vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of CXCR4 antagonist BKT140 against human non–small cell lung cancer[J]. The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, 2012, 144(5): 1167-1175. e1.
[2] Burger J A, Kipps T J. CXCR4: a key receptor in the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment[J]. Blood, 2006, 107(5): 1761-1767.
[3] Nagler A, Shimoni A, Avivi I, et al. BKT140 is a novel CXCR4 antagonist with stem cell mobilization and antimyeloma effects: an open-label first human trial in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing stem cell mobilization for autologous transplantation[J]. Blood, 2010, 116(21): 2260-2260.