The following is a summary of data from the American Association for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer conference, which is being held through Friday in San Francisco.

• Hana Biosciences Inc., of South San Francisco, said interim data from the first four cohorts of the Phase I trial of Alocrest (vinorelbine tartrate injection) demonstrates antitumor activity, with three of 11 patients with refractory solid tumors achieving stable disease. To date, Alocrest, a sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposome-encapsulated vinorelbine formulation, also has been relatively well tolerated over multiple cycles of therapy. The company continues to enroll patients in the study, with a sixth cohort underway at a dose that approximates the maximum tolerated dose of conventional vinorelbine.

• Micromet Inc., of Bethesda, Md., reported that further analysis of Phase II breast cancer data showed preferential activity of adecatumumab on inhibiting the formation of new metastases. Results from 169 patients treated with the product demonstrated an apparent lack of immunogenicity of the antibody. The company also said that data showed that BiTE antibodies, which target the cancer associated antigen melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, are highly active against melanoma cells by recruiting T cells for efficient tumor cell lysis in vitro.

• Progen Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Brisbane, Australia, reported that the company's multiple heparan sulfate mimetic compounds, known as the PG500 series, decreased or prevented human endothelial cell proliferative responses to growth factors including fibroblast growth factors 1 and 2 and to vascular endothelial cell growth factor. Blocking these interactions inhibits the angiogenesis and metastasis processes critical in tumor growth and progression. The compounds also prevented new blood vessel formation as determined in the rat aortic assay. In animal models of melanoma and human colorectal cancer, the heparan sulfate mimetic compounds inhibited tumor progression.

• ZymoGenetics Inc., of Seattle, said Phase I interim data from its ongoing Phase I/II trial of Interleukin 21 in combination with Nexavar (sorafenib, Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.) in patients with renal-cell cancer suggests that combination treatment is well tolerated, with a toxicity profile similar to known toxicities of each agent alone. That combination therapy also has shown promising antitumor activity. To date, a total of 13 evaluable patients have been enrolled, and 11 have completed at least one six-week treatment course and have gone on to receive repeat treatment. Ten of those 11 patients have had measurable disease per RECIST criteria and have shown a decrease in tumor mass as their best response on study, ranging from 18 percent to 33 percent per investigator assessment.