Q702 was tested on 51 patients with advanced solid tumors, ranging from cancers of the lung to the pancreas.

While the study didn’t specifically highlight prostate cancer, its focus on solid tumors and the drug’s mechanism make it highly relevant for men battling metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a particularly aggressive form of the disease.
Q702 works by blocking three proteins—Axl, Mer, and CSF1R—that tumors use to grow, spread, and dodge the immune system. In prostate cancer, Axl and Mer are known culprits in fueling tumor resistance to drugs like enzalutamide, while CSF1R helps tumors hide from immune attacks by recruiting protective immune cells. By shutting down these pathways, Q702 not only slows tumor growth but also rallies the body’s immune system to fight back, a strategy that could be a game-changer for prostate cancer patients.

Of the 46 patients evaluated for response, 12 achieved stable disease—meaning their cancer stopped growing—with six holding steady for over 16 weeks, a significant feat for such heavily pretreated patients. Four of these long-term responders were on the 120 mg dose, which was chosen as the recommended dose for future studies due to its balance of safety and effectiveness.
Safety was a strong point for Q702. Most side effects were mild, including fatigue, nausea, taste changes (dysgeusia), and temporary increases in liver or muscle enzymes (AST/ALT/CPK). More serious side effects, like Grade 3 enzyme elevations, were rare and reversible, linked to the drug’s effect on immune cells in the liver (Kupffer cells) and brain (microglial cells). Mild neurological issues, such as drowsiness or taste changes, appeared at higher doses but were manageable. No severe (Grade 4 or 5) side effects were reported, and the maximum tolerated dose wasn’t reached, underscoring Q702’s tolerability—a critical factor for prostate cancer patients, who often face complex health challenges.

The study also showed that Q702 hits its targets effectively. At doses as low as 30 mg, it fully blocked Axl and CSF1R, with complete depletion of certain immune cells (non-classical monocytes) at the 120 mg dose—a marker of its immune-modulating power. This could make Q702 a strong candidate for combination therapies, pairing it with existing prostate cancer drugs or immunotherapies to boost their impact.

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