Postive Results Reported in Trial of Antibody to Treat Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Immunomedics reported positive results from a Phase II trial in Germany of its radiolabeled, humanized antibody used in place of chemotherapy to treat advanced colorectal cancer.

Two sets of patients were studied; 21 with measurable metastatic colorectal cancer and 9 who had their metastases removed prior to receiving treatment (adjuvant group).

Both groups were given a single dose of the I-131-labeled humanized antibody against antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and 5 patients with documented tumor recurrence were given a second treatment 8 to 16 months after the first treatment.

Of the 19 patients in the non-surgery group with measurable, small-volume, metastatic cancer, 3 experienced a partial remission and 8 showed minor responses.

Seven of the 9 (78 percent) patients in the adjuvant group remained disease-free for up to 36 months. In comparison, only 33 percent of patients in a historical control group, who received standard chemotherapy at the same hospital and over the same time period, were free of disease.

"This initial analysis of our results clearly suggests that radioimmunotherapy with this experimental agent appears to be a relatively safe and promising form of therapy for small-volume colorectal cancer, and has potential as a treatment for colorectal cancer in an adjuvant setting, following complete resection of metastases," Professor Thomas M. Behr of the University of Gottingen reported in the journal Cancer.

"Since the tumors of most patients with colorectal cancer express high amounts of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), this therapy should be of use to many such patients with this generally unresponsive cancer," he added.

Other Sources: Immunomedics