Clinical protocols for the treatment of GI cancer

胃肠道癌是美国肿瘤相关死亡的主要原因之一。目前的治疗选择仅限于手术、化疗、放疗和分子靶向治疗，迫切需要新的治疗选择。我们目前有两项针对晚期肝细胞癌患者的临床试验。在这些试验中，我们评估了血管靶向药物Trc105的疗效。Trc 105是结合CD105（内皮糖蛋白）的单克隆抗体，其在肿瘤浸润内皮细胞上高度表达。在另一项试验中，我们正在测试西妥昔单抗和AZD 6244（一种MEK抑制剂）的药物组合。本试验与威斯康星州大学的一个研究中心合作进行。最后，我们计划开展一项试验，在标准化疗失败的晚期胰腺癌患者中测试基于免疫的方法。在该多中心试验中，患者将用GVAX（表达GM-CSF的同种异体细胞系）和表达间皮素的单核细胞增生李斯特菌的组合治疗。最后，我们正在准备两项试验，在不同的适应症中测试STAT-3抑制剂。

Gastrointestinal cancer represent one of the major reasons for tumor related death in the United States. Current treatment options are limited to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and molecular targeted therapy and new treatment options are urgently needed. We have currently two clinical trials open for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. In these trials we evaluate the efficacy of a vascular targeting agent, Trc105. Trc 105 is a monoclonal antibody which binds to CD105 (endoglin), which is highly expressed on tumor infiltrating endothelial cells. In another trial, we are testing the drug combination of cetuximab and AZD6244, a MEK inhibitor. This trial is conducted in collaboration with a site at the University of Wisconsin. Finally we plan to open a trial in which we test an immune based approach in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, who have failed standard chemotherapy. In this multicenter trial patients will be treated with a combination of GVAX (a GM-CSF expressing allogeneic cell line) and Listeria monocytogenes expressing mesothelin. Fianlly we are in the process of prepraring two trial testing a STAT-3 inhibitor in different indications.