title: Phase II trial of Virulizin in patients with pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Twenty-two patients were enrolled in a clinical trial to determine the toxicity and efficacy of the novel immunomodulator Virulizin in patients with measurable, biopsy-proven pancreatic cancer. The dose was 0.11 ml/kg (minimum 7.5 ml) 3 times weekly for the first week, then twice weekly until disease progression. No toxicity was encountered. In the 17 evaluable patients there was no evidence of tumour regression. Six patients (35%) had disease stabilization for more than 3 months, and 2 are still alive with progressive disease, having had disease stabilization for 15 and 17 months. While the results do not suggest any cytotoxic activity at this dose and schedule, the possibility of an antiproliferative effect warrants further study of this agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinroth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001646:Bile; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014020:Tissue Extracts
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C087098:virulizin