Motexafin Gadolinium - MGd

Motexafin Gadolinium (MGd, PCI-0120) is a radiation and chemotherapy sensitizing agent with a novel mechanism of action. MGd is designed to accumulate selectively in cancer cells. Once inside cancer cells, MGd in combination with radiation induces apoptosis (cell death) by disrupting the oxygen dependent pathways in a cell. MGd is also detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and may allow for more precise tumor detection. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored a single arm Phase I/II multi-center study in newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma multiform (a type of primary brain cancer). The study administered MGd in combination with radiation therapy and temozolomide, a chemotherapy for brain cancers. This study has been completed; results from the trial were presented at the 2011 American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Annual Meeting.

 

Animation of MGd