Oncolytics Biotech(R) Inc. Announces Start of Enrolment in U.S. Phase 2 Melanoma Cancer Clin...(vel agent will continue to show promisin...),Health

The trial (REO 020) is a single arm, open-label, Phase 2 study of REOLYSIN given intravenously with paclitaxel and carboplatin every three weeks. It is anticipated that up to 43 patients will be treated in the study.

Eligible patients include those with metastatic, malignant melanoma who have failed one or more prior therapies, or those who are not considered to be a candidate for standard, first-line treatment.

The primary objective of the Phase 2 trial is to measure the objective response rate (partial response (PR) and complete response (CR)) to the treatment combination. The secondary objectives are to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the treatment regimen in the study population, to assess disease control rate (CR + PR + stable disease (SD)) and duration in the study population, and to assess the safety and tolerability of the combination treatment.

This trial is part of a broad preclinical and clinical collaboration with the CTRC that will involve up to five, open-label, Phase 2 studies exploring the use of REOLYSIN in combination with chemotherapy for various cancer indications.

About Melanoma

Cancer of the skin is the most common of cancers, probably accounting for at least half of all cancers. Melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 68,720 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States during 2009, and 8,650 people will die from the condition. Unlike many other common cancers, melanoma widely occurs in younger as well as older people. Occurrence rates continue to increase with age and are highest among those in their 80s, but melanoma is not uncommon in those younger than 30, and in fact is one of the more common cancers in adolescents and young adults. For more information about melano
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