In a preliminary study patients with potentially operable tumors completed treatment with radiation and the drugs gemcitabine and bevacizumab. Sixteen patients with stage disease who had not benefited from at least one round of prior therapy were treated with high dose interferon alfa b and tremelimumab. The study funded by pfizer has since moved into its next stage where it will enroll more patients. The overall response rate was percent. The study was supported in part by bristol myers squibb cetuximabs manufacturer. The study is sponsored by genentech which developed bevacizumab.