Microencapsulated cell-mediated treatment of inoperable pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic cancer can seldom be resected, and chemotherapy has only a limit ed effect on survival or tumour load. We did a phase I/II trial in 14 patie nts with pancreatic cancer to assess the safety of local activation of low- dose ifosfamide. We encapsulated genetically modified allogeneic cells, whi ch expressed a cytochrome P450 enzyme, in cellulose sulphate and delivered them by supraselective angiography to the tumour vasculature. These cells l ocally activated systemically administered ifosfamide. The tumours of four patients regressed after treatment, and those of the other ten individuals who completed the study remained stable. Median survival was doubled in the treatment group by comparison with historic controls, and 1-year survival rate was three times better. Further studies of this cell-therapy-based tre atment combined with chemotherapy for inoperable pancreatic cancer are warr anted.