Trials of Therapeutic Vaccine for Colorectal Cancer Expanded

Researchers have expanded one clinical trial of a therapeutic vaccine designed to be used in treating advanced colorectal cancer, and have launched a second trial using the vaccine earlier in the course of the disease.

Both studies are designed to determine how the investigational vaccine, ALVAC-CEA/B7.1, can be most effective when integrated with standard chemotherapy regimens to treat colon cancer (see earlier Colorectal Cancer Week story).

ALVAC-CEA/B7.1 is a unique cancer vaccine under development that uses a viral vector system derived from the canarypox virus. It is designed to activate the body's own immune system to eliminate cancer cells that may not be eliminated with traditional treatment

"We are committed to pursuing multiple routes to determine whether ALVAC-CEA/B7.1 has a role in improving overall outcomes when used with chemotherapy to treat colon cancer," said Dr. Neil Berinstein of Aventis Pasteur. "By adding more trial locations for our first study, and initiating the second study, we are demonstrating our confidence in moving the ALVAC vaccine forward."

In the phase II trial for patients with metastatic colon cancer, new sites enrolling patients have been established in Chicago, Tampa, FL, Portland, OR, and Dunmore, PA.

Sites participating in the phase I trial involving patients with earlier-stage colorectal cancer are in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary; and Montreal.

Other Sources: Aventis Pasteur