Exhibit 99.2


                                [CANCERVAX LOGO]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                   DATA AND SAFETY MONITORING BOARD RECOMMENDS
           DISCONTINUATION OF THE CANVAXIN(TM) PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL
                              FOR STAGE IV MELANOMA

                DSMB ALSO RECOMMENDS CONTINUATION OF CANVAXIN(TM)
                  PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIAL FOR STAGE III MELANOMA

CARLSBAD, CA, USA - APRIL 6, 2005 - CancerVax Corporation (NASDAQ: CNVX)
announced today plans to discontinue the Phase 3 clinical trial of Canvaxin(TM)
in patients with Stage IV melanoma based upon the recommendation of the
independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), which recently completed
its planned, second, interim analysis of the data from this study. The DSMB
found that the data are unlikely to provide significant evidence of a survival
benefit for Canvaxin-treated patients with Stage IV melanoma versus those
receiving placebo.

Based on a limited review of data from the Phase 3 clinical trial of
Canvaxin(TM) in Stage III melanoma, the DSMB recommended that this clinical
trial continue as planned. CancerVax and Serono, CancerVax's worldwide
development partner for Canvaxin(TM), intend to continue the Phase 3 clinical
trial in Stage III melanoma, and expect that the DSMB will review the third
interim analysis of data from this clinical trial in the third quarter of 2005.
It is anticipated that the final analysis of data from this clinical trial will
take place after the required number of clinical events have occurred, which is
currently estimated to occur in mid-2006. There were no safety issues identified
with either of the Phase 3 clinical trials of Canvaxin, and the recommendation
to close the Stage IV study was not made because of any potential safety
concern.

In 2004, enrollment of 1,160 patients in the Phase 3 clinical trial in Stage III
melanoma was completed. As of the date of this announcement, a total of 496
patients out of a planned total enrollment of 670 patients were enrolled in the
Phase 3 clinical trial in Stage IV melanoma, and further enrollment has been
discontinued.

"This news is disappointing. Treatment of patients with Stage IV melanoma has
proven to be very difficult and, as yet, no therapeutic agent has been shown to
impact overall survival in these patients," said David F. Hale, President and
CEO of CancerVax Corporation. "We would like to sincerely thank the patients and
their families, and the clinicians and other healthcare professionals who
participated in this clinical trial, for their strong support over the past
several years."

"We remain committed to completing our Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with
Stage III melanoma. The data from the Phase 3 clinical trial in Stage IV
melanoma will be fully analyzed, and will be presented in an appropriate
scientific forum. In addition to the ongoing study in patients with Stage III
melanoma, we expect to begin enrollment soon in a Phase 2 study to evaluate the
clinical response to Canvaxin(TM) of patients with in-transit melanoma, an
uncommon form of melanoma in which multiple subcutaneous or intradermal
metastases are visible."


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ABOUT THE DSMB

The DSMB consists of independent experts in medical and surgical oncology,
statistics and medical ethics who are not participating in the clinical trials,
whose primary responsibility is to monitor, on a periodic basis, the data
emerging from a clinical trial and to provide recommendations to the sponsor on
whether a study should be modified or discontinued.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST TODAY AT 9:00 AM EASTERN TIME

CancerVax management will host a conference call today to discuss the DSMB
recommendation to discontinue the Canvaxin Phase 3 clinical trial for stage IV
melanoma at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of management's
presentation will be available at http://ir.cancervax.com. Alternatively,
callers may participate in the conference call by dialing (888) 396-2386
(domestic) or (617) 847-8712 (international). The passcode is 33640768. A replay
of the conference call can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (domestic) or
(617) 801-6888 (international). The passcode for the replay is 59816558. The
webcast will also be archived on CancerVax's website.

ABOUT CANCERVAX CORPORATION (WWW.CANCERVAX.COM)

CancerVax Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on the research,
development and commercialization of novel biological products for the treatment
and control of cancer. The Company's lead product candidate, Canvaxin(TM), is
one of a new class of products being developed in the area of specific active
immunotherapy, also known as therapeutic cancer vaccines. In December 2004,
CancerVax announced an exclusive worldwide collaboration with Serono
Technologies, S.A., a Swiss corporation, for the development and
commercialization of Canvaxin.

In addition to Canvaxin(TM), CancerVax has licensed three specific active
immunotherapeutic product candidates targeting the EGFR signaling pathway,
including one product candidate in Phase 2 clinical trials. The Company also
plans to identify and develop new product candidates based on its proprietary
specific active immunotherapy, anti-angiogenesis and telomere signaling
T-oligonucleotide technology. CancerVax's corporate headquarters and research
and development facility is located in Carlsbad, California, and its biologics
manufacturing facility is located in the Los Angeles area.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

CancerVax cautions you that statements included in this press release that are
not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. For
example, statements about the DSMB's data analysis and evaluation of
Canvaxin(TM), timing and outcomes of the interim and final analyses of its
clinical trials, and plans and objectives of management, are all forward-looking
statements. There can be no assurance that studies or evaluation of Canvaxin
will be favorable or that they will confirm the results of retrospective
analyses of data from Phase 1/2 clinical trials, that the evaluations will be
completed or demonstrate sufficient effectiveness, that marketing applications
will be filed or, if filed, approved, or that the company will be successful in
commercializing Canvaxin(TM). The inclusion of forward-looking statements should
not be regarded as a representation by CancerVax that any of its plans will be
achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this
release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in CancerVax's business
including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its
clinical trials, including the planned continuation and eventual outcome of the
trials, the anticipation of future recommendations by the DSMB, the potential
for the trials to serve as pivotal trials for regulatory purposes, and the
anticipated filing of regulatory approvals; difficulties or delays in
developing, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its
product


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candidates; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy
of its product candidates that could delay or prevent product development or
commercialization, or that could result in recalls or product liability claims;
the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; CancerVax's
inability to protect its intellectual property and proprietary technology and to
maintain and enforce its licensing arrangements with various third party
licensors; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; its
ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations, which could
adversely affect its ability to develop or commercialize Canvaxin or other
product candidates and its ability to continue to operate as a going concern;
the risk that the collaboration agreement may be terminated by Serono;
CancerVax's limited experience in manufacturing and testing biological products,
which may result in delayed development or commercialization of Canvaxin and its
other product candidates, as well as lost revenue; and other risks detailed in
CancerVax's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including CancerVax's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. You are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified
in their entirety by this cautionary statement and CancerVax undertakes no
obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

CancerVax(R) is a registered trademark of CancerVax Corporation. Canvaxin(TM) is
a trademark of CancerVax Corporation.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

  CANCERVAX CORPORATION
  VINCE REARDON
  Senior Director, Investor Relations
  Tel: +1 760 494 4850

  http://www.cancervax.com


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