Hi Peter, don't know if the articles referenced by Dew (have not had time to go back and review them) mentioned imetelstat, a telomerase inhibitor currently in phase II trials (Geron). Geron as you probably know took a hit when they decided to no longer support their stem cell research and essentially shut down their phase I study using stem cells for spinal cord injuries. It seems that there was some benefit in understanding CSCs as a spin off of this research as it appears that telomerase is specific to cancer stem cells (and embryonic cells) and the telomerse inhibitor apparently shows some promise in targeting these cells. DLT is thrombocytopenia (probably a direct effect on megacaryocytes making thrombocythemia a possible clinical target as well). Several phase II studies in progress: myeloma, breast, lung. Worth checking out. Please let me know what you think. Geron has basically decided to refashion themselves as an oncology company. The telomerse story includes Elizebeth Blackburn and colleagues Nobel prize and makes for some interesting reading. Oh, and also some work on antitelomerase vaccines too, using embryonic stem cell derived dendritic cells as a delivery systerm. Wish Dew would consider this companies work as a candidate for the RMF section. Best Wishes, biopearl.
