Study: Virus Therapy Shows Promise in Phase II Trial

CI-1042, a human virus genetically engineered to selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells, showed promising results in a phase II trial in seven of 18 patients with advanced colorectal cancer for whom chemotherapy had failed, according to researchers.

The researchers reported that they administered the therapy intravenously at two week intervals to the 18 patients, and seven were assessed as having stable disease after 2 months of treatment, with two having stable disease after 4 months.

"Detectable circulating CI-1042 DNA was identified in 36 percent of patients 72 hours after last infusion, which is suggestive of ongoing viral replication," the researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"Toxicity was manageable, consisting primarily of flu-like symptoms," the researchers added. They said all 18 patients eventually were removed from the study because of progressive disease.

Other Sources: Journal of Clinical Oncology