The hope is that slamming multiple defective genes at once with highly targeted drugs will increase the chance of long-lasting remissions or even cures.

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On the one hand, when used alone, Iressa has induced dramatic remissions in a small number of patients who have been failed by other drugs.

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Five patients with a lethal leukemia achieved complete and rapid remissions after the treatment, in which cells from their own immune systems were genetically altered to specifically attack the disease.

WSJ: Gene Therapy Shows Promise as Cancer Treatment

The evidence includes the fact that some unexplained remissions have occurred after infections, which may propel the immune system into high gear--possibly attacking the cancer tumor as well as the infection.

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Most trials of ipilimumab to date have been in advanced melanoma, where a small percentage of patients have experienced spectacular long-lasting remissions, even as the drug appears to do relatively little for the majority.

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Results of a Phase 1 study, rcently presented at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, showed three of five patients in their second or third remissions had longer complete responses with CNDO-109 than with other therapies, says Dr. Markey.

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