NEWLY PUBLISHED DATA DEMONSTRATES ACTIVITY OF QUADRAMET

Cytogen has announced the publication of data from a study of Quadramet (samarium Sm-153 lexidronam injection), in combination with gemcitabine (Gemzar, Eli Lilly), a nucleoside analog that is known to be a radiation sensitizer. The majority of patients with advanced-stage disease who were treated with the combination regimen demonstrated an improvement in imaging studies. Results were published today in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Cancer Research.

The study was conducted by independent investigators who evaluated the use of high-dose Quadramet in conjunction with gemcitabine for the treatment of osteosarcoma. In the study, 14 patients with osteoblastic lesions of relapsed, resistant, and/or refractory osteosarcoma for which surgical control was not possible received 30 mCi/kg of Quadramet, significantly higher than the standard palliative dose of 1.0 mCi/kg. Gemcitabine was then administered one day later, followed by stem cell or bone marrow support two weeks later to correct expected hematopoietic toxicity.