Experimental immune cell therapy shows promise for Tough-to-Treat colon cancer
NCT ID NCT04444622
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed Phase IIB trial tested an experimental immunotherapy called STIMVAX (AlloStim) in 29 adults with metastatic colorectal cancer that had not responded to two prior chemotherapy regimens. The treatment uses immune cells from healthy donors to try to fight the cancer. The study measured overall survival and safety to see if this approach could be a new option for patients with limited choices.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- STIMVAX (AlloStim) - immune cells from healthy donors
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced colorectal cancer who have run out of standard chemotherapy options.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (Phase IIB) with only 29 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment is experimental and may cause side effects or not improve survival.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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29 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2021
- Finished
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Mar 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult males and female subjects aged 18-80 years at screening visit 2. Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma 3. Presenting with metastatic disease: 4. Previous treatment failure of two previous lines of active systemic chemotherapy: * Previous chemotherapy must have included an oxaliplatin-containing (e.g. FOLFOX) and an irinotecan-containing (e.g. FOLFIRI) regimen * With or without bevacizumab * Administered in adjuvant setting or for treatment of metastatic disease * If KRAS wild type, must have at least one prior anti-EGFR therapy * Treatment failure can be due to disease progression or toxicity * Disease progression on second line therapy must be documented radiologically and must have occurred during or within 30 days following the last administration of treatment for metastatic disease 5. ECOG performance score: 0-1 6. Adequate hematological function: * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,200/mm3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3 * PT/INR ≤ 1.5 or correctable to \<1.5 at time of interventional procedures * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (may be corrected by transfusion) 7. Adequate Organ Function: * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN \* * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 times ULN \* * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times ULN \* \*or ≤5x ULN if liver involvement 8. EKG without clinically relevant abnormalities 9. Female subjects: Not pregnant or lactating 10. Patients with child bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception 11. Study specific informed consent in the native language of the subject. Exclusion Criteria: 1. high frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) 2. Bowel obstruction or high risk for obstruction if tumors become inflamed 3. Moderate or severe ascites requiring medical intervention 4. Clinical evidence or radiological evidence of brain metastasis or leptomeningeal involvement 5. Peritoneal carcinomatosis 6. Symptomatic asthma or COPD 7. Pulmonary lymphangitis or symptomatic pleural effusion (grade ≥ 2) that results in pulmonary dysfunction requiring active treatment; or, oxygen saturation \<92% on room air 8. Bevacizumab (Avastin®) treatment within 6 weeks of baseline scheduled biopsy procedure 9. Any of the following mood disorders: active major depressive episode, history of suicidal attempt or ideation 10. Prior allogeneic bone marrow/stem cell or solid organ transplant 11. Chronic use (\> 2 weeks) of greater than physiologic doses of a corticosteroid agent (dose equivalent to \> 5 mg/day of prednisone) within 30 days of the first day of study drug treatment * Topical corticosteroids are permitted 12. Prior diagnosis of an active autoimmune disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid disease, uveitis). * Well controlled Type I diabetes allowed 13. Prior experimental therapy 14. History of blood transfusion reactions 15. Progressive viral or bacterial infection * All infections must be resolved and the subject must remain afebrile for seven days without antibiotics prior to being placed on study 16. Cardiac disease of symptomatic nature 17. History of HIV positivity or AIDS 18. Concurrent medication known to interfere with platelet function or coagulation (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, clopidogrel, or warfarin) unless such medications can be discontinued for an appropriate time period based on the drug half-life and known activity (e.g., aspirin for 7 days) prior to biopsy procedures 19. History of severe hypersensitivity to monoclonal antibody drugs 20. Psychiatric or addictive disorders or other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude study participation. 21. Subjects that lack ability to provide consent for themselves.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Hirschfield Oncology Center
The Bronx, New York, 10469, United States
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Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
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Mt. Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, United States
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Summit Health
Florham Park, New Jersey, 07932, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a hyaluronic acid drug combo outperform bevacizumab in Hard-to-Treat colon cancer?
- Can a targeted drug boost chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer?
- New antibody aims to preserve immune checkpoint while fighting cancer
- Two-Step PET scan aims to spot hidden colorectal cancer spread
- Can a targeted drug conjugate outsmart advanced colorectal cancer?
- Can an antimalarial drug boost immunotherapy against colorectal cancer?