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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
Published on: July 25, 2020
A phase I dose-escalation study of SR271425, an intravenously dosed thioxanthone analog, administered weekly in
A Craig Lockhart1, Emiliano Calvo, Anthony W Tolcher
1Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Craig.Lockhart@Vanderbilt.edu
Objectives:
The thioxanthone analog, SR271425, is a novel cytotoxic DNA-interacting agent with broad antitumor activity in preclinical models. The objectives of this phase I study were to determine the dose-limiting toxicities, maximum tolerated dose, recommended phase II dose, pharmacokinetic profile, and trend for efficacy in patients with advanced cancer.
Methods:
SR271425 was administered intravenously over 1-hour, weekly for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week rest. Because of Cmax-related corrected QT (QTc) prolongation in preclinical testing of SR271425, all patients underwent an extensive pretreatment cardiac assessment.
Results:
Eighteen patients received SR271425 at 5 dose levels ranging from 64 to 675 mg/m/wk. No dose-limiting toxicities were identified. In all tested dose-levels, Grade 3 adverse events were observed in 10/18 patients (55.6%) and Grade 4 in 4/18 patients (22.2%). QTc prolongation was reported at the 3 highest dose levels but did not exceed Grade 2. Six deaths occurred during the study, 5 of them because of disease progression and 1 because of disease related bowel perforation. SR271425 exposure increased in a near dose-proportional manner. The mean terminal plasma half-life of SR271425 was 6 hours and there was no drug accumulation after repeated dosing. Stable disease was the best outcome observed (5 patients).
Conclusions:
SR271425 was administered safely at doses up to 675 mg/m/wk on a 2-week on, 1-week off schedule. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Grade 2 QTc prolongation was observed at the highest dose levels. Maximum tolerated dose was not reached because of early termination of the SR271425 program by the sponsor.
Insights
The novel cytotoxic drug SR271425 showed a safe profile in advanced cancer patients, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed up to 675 mg/m/wk. Further development was halted, preventing the determination of a maximum tolerated dose.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- SR271425 is a novel thioxanthone analog with DNA-interacting cytotoxic properties.
- Preclinical models demonstrated broad antitumor activity for SR271425.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and tolerability of SR271425 in patients with advanced cancer.
- To determine dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD).
- To assess the pharmacokinetic profile and preliminary efficacy of SR271425.
Main Methods:
- A Phase I clinical trial was conducted, administering SR271425 intravenously weekly for 2 weeks, followed by 1 week rest.
- Patients underwent cardiac assessments due to preclinical concerns of corrected QT (QTc) prolongation.
- Dose escalation involved 18 patients across 5 dose levels (64–675 mg/m/wk).
Main Results:
- No dose-limiting toxicities were identified throughout the study.
- Grade 3 and 4 adverse events occurred in 55.6% and 22.2% of patients, respectively.
- Grade 2 QTc prolongation was observed at higher doses, but no MTD was reached due to early program termination.
Conclusions:
- SR271425 was safely administered up to 675 mg/m/wk on a 2-week on, 1-week off schedule.
- The drug exhibited dose-proportional pharmacokinetics with a 6-hour half-life and no accumulation.
- Despite promising preclinical data, the SR271425 program was terminated by the sponsor before MTD determination.
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