Custirsen (OGX-011): a second-generation antisense inhibitor of clusterin in development for the treatment of prostate cancer

Abstract

Clusterin is a stress-induced cytoprotective chaperone that confers broad-spectrum treatment resistance and is overexpressed across a number of cancers. custirsen (OGX-011) is a promising novel second-generation antisense inhibitor of clusterin in clinical development. This article describes the mechanism of action and safety profile of OGX-011 and details the Phase I and II results in human solid organ malignancies. Two Phase III registration trials are currently under recruitment evaluating OGX-011 in combination with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. These studies not only have the potential to significantly alter the standard of care in prostate cancer, but would also endorse a new class of targets and targeted therapy approach for cancer.