Oncolytics presents positive results of cancer combination therapy trial

Four of the first eight patients treated in the study to date have a diagnosis of carcinoma of the head and neck. All three head and neck patients evaluated to date have had excellent clinical and radiological responses without appreciable toxicity. Preliminary assessment after recruitment of the first two cohorts has suggested that patients with head and neck carcinomas may represent a group of patients in whom the combination of carboplatin/paclitaxel and Reolysin is active.

In the first cohort, the patient with head and neck cancer received eight cycles of treatment (the maximum allowed) and achieved a clinical complete response. In the second cohort, the two patients with head and neck cancers with widespread disseminated disease have each received six cycles of treatment to date and both have achieved significant partial responses. Two of the three patients, including the patient with the clinical complete response, had previously received cisplatin/5-FU treatment and all three had previously received radiotherapy.

Karl Mettinger, chief medical officer for Oncolytics, said: “These early results in head and neck patients are remarkable, considering the prognosis for refractory patients is generally poor.”