Cancer

Patient sample, cell culture and mouse studies suggest antagonizing CD124 or promoting DUSP4 expression could help treat breast cancer. In patients, low levels of the DUSP4 negative regulator IL-4, and high levels of DUSP4, correlated with relapse-free survival. In patient breast cancer cells, a CD124 antagonist tool compound or overexpression of DUSP4 decreased proliferation, invasiveness and colony formation compared with vehicle or normal DUSP4 expression. In a mouse model of breast cancer, the CD124 antagonist decreased tumor growth and overexpression of DUSP4 decreased metastasis to the liver and lungs. Next steps could include identifying and testing IL-4 inhibitors or DUSP4 activators in models of breast cancer.

AstraZeneca plc has MEDI9314, a mAb targeting CD124, in Phase I testing to treat dermatitis...