Bio-Path Holdings, Inc. presented a poster highlighting preclinical BP1003 data at the 2022 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. STAT3 is a transcription factor that regulates various tumorigenic processes, such as tumor proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. Its overexpression and aberrant activation characterize many cancers, including breast, lung, ovarian, liver and colon cancer.

Activation of the STAT3 pathway in breast and ovarian cancer cells promotes tumor initiation, migration, and taxol resistance. STAT3 also contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and promotes 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer cells. Its role in numerous malignancies made STAT3 a potential cancer therapeutic target.

BP1003, a novel liposome-incorporated STAT3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, efficiently reduces STAT3 expression and enhances the sensitivity of breast and ovarian cancer cells to taxol and 5-FU. These results are in line with previous work in which BP1003 plus gemcitabine displayed enhanced anti-tumor activity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Together these results strongly suggest that BP1003 combination therapy is a novel strategy for patients with advanced solid tumors.