Preliminary pharmacodynamic analyses of PG545 identified changes in cell surface markers, cytokines and chemokines, which is consistent with preclinical findings18 and other innate stimulatory agents.31–35 At 50 and 100 mg dose levels, activation in pDCs of some patients was apparent either by elevations in CD40 expression or IFNα production, both of which are considered key targets for the treatment of cancer,6,10,36,37 while activation of NK cells was evident either by increased numbers of NKp46+ (CD335) cells or IFNγ production. This evidence concerns the gene CD40 and cancer.