A trial looking at Phortress for advanced cancer (PH1/090)

This trial looked at a drug called Phortress for advanced cancer. The trial was supported by Cancer Research UK.

Phortress is called a ‘pro drug’. This means it is not an active drug when you have it, but changes into the active form in your body. The active form of Phortress is called 5F 203.

The theory is that 5F 203 then binds to genetic material (DNA) inside cancer cells. This means that the cell cannot function or reproduce properly and it dies.

Phortress had only been tested in the laboratory before. This trial was the first time it had been tested in people.

The aims of the trial were to find out

• The best dose of Phortress to give

• What happens to Phortress in the body

• How well it works as an treatment for cancer

• What the side effects are