Cellceutix has reported its cancer compound, Kevetrin, has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in the treatment of leukemia cells in a hematopoietic xenograft tumor model.  The activity is attributed to the reactivation of p53, the "Guardian Angel" protein, which Cellceutix announced as a major breakthrough in cancer research.

Data from the NCI-60 DTP Human Tumor Cell Line Screen showed Kevetrin was effective in killing leukemia cells in vitro. The activity of Kevetrin was evaluated in nude mice bearing established human chronic myelogenous leukemia tumors, K-562. After administration of 200 mg/kg every other day per week for three weeks, Kevetrin significantly reduced the average tumor volume by 84% (day 24, p< 0.01). Tumors in mice treated with Kevetrin took a median of 32 days to reach 1000 cubic meters in volume whereas control mice took only 15 days, resulting in a Tumor Growth Delay of 110%.

In addition, after Kevetrin treatment, the tumors in 14% of the mice completely regressed for a period of three weeks. This was achieved with no significant weight loss in the animals. This represents more potent anti-tumor activity compared to historical data with standard leukemia chemotherapies, Vincristine or Daunorubicin, in a human xenograft model, e.g., Vincristine (0.2 mg/kg every other day for 1 week) reduced tumor volumes by 55 percent and Daunorubicn (1 mg/kg every other day for 2 weeks) reduced tumor volume by 30 percent in the MOLM-13 acute myeloid leukemia xenograft model (Yang 2007 Blood 110:2034).