XIAP Antisense AEG35156 in Combination With Sorafenib in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

AEG35156 is a second generation antisense which targets XIAP mRNA to lower XIAP levels and the apoptotic threshold of cancer cells, enhancing their sensitivity to intrinsic death and chemotherapy. Advanced HCC is an attractive target for AEG35156 since XIAP is highly expressed in HCC and may prevent cancer cells from undergoing apoptosis. Second generation antisense molecules are known to accumulate in liver where AEG35156 may down regulate XIAP protein expression in HCC cells thus promoting their apoptotic death.