Intravenous BIBH 1 in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer International Union Against Cancer (UICC) Stage IV who are progressive under at least two previous chemotherapy regimes or who refused conventional treatment or who are not eligible for conventional treatment
• Progressive disease documented by subsequent computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning prior to study entry. The last CT or MRI scans must be performed within 1 month before study entry. The first CT or MRI scan should be conducted within 6 months before study entry
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤ 2
• Expected survival of ≥ 6 months
• Greater than or equal to 18 years of age
• Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10**9/L
• Total leukocytes ≥ 2500/mm**3
• Alanine aminotransferase/Aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ≤ 4 x upper limit of normal
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg/dl (or 34µmol/L, Systeme International (SI) unit equivalent)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dl (0.20 mmol/l)
• Written informed consent in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and local legislation

Exclusion criteria

• Active metastatic disease to the central nervous system, exhibited by new or enlarging lesions on CT or MRI scan or within 3 months of treatment (i.e., surgery or radiotherapy) for brain metastases
• Exposure to an investigation agent within 30 days prior to the first BIBH 1 infusion
• Patients who are not fully recovered from surgery (incomplete healing)
• Chemotherapy or immunotherapy within 30 days prior to the first BIBH 1 infusion
• Radiation therapy to the symptomatic sites included for tumour measurements within 30 days prior to study entry
• Previous administration of a murine, chimeric or humanised measurement and/or antibody fragment (e.g. BIBH 1, Panorex)
• Serious illness: e.g., active infections requiring antibiotics, bleeding disorders, patients with known untreated or unstable coronary heart disease (e.g. unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study entry) or diseases considered by the investigator to have potential for interfering with obtaining accurate results from this study
• Women who are breast-feeding or pregnant
• Men and women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to utilise a medically acceptable method of contraception
• Patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases