Dr. Saab on Napabucasin (BBI-608) in Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses the stemness inhibitor napabucasin (BBI-608) as a potential treatment for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

A phase III study that investigated single-agent napabucasin versus placebo did not reach its primary endpoint, Bekaii-Saab explains. However, in the patients with the p-STAT3 expression, it was found that the hazard ratio was .21, telling researchers that the mechanism of action of this drug perhaps is what's leading the clinical activity in this patient population. When this agent is combined with chemotherapy, the STAT3 expression is not as significant, he adds.

Therefore, there are other synergy levels with chemotherapy and other biomarkers that are being explored.