Additional period for lease.

No definition available.

Name:	cris_AdditionalPeriodForLease
Namespace Prefix:	cris_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Extension period for lease.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cris_ExtensionPeriodForLease
Namespace Prefix:	cris_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	cris_LicenseAgreementLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cris_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of university licensors.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cris_NumberOfUniversityLicensors
Namespace Prefix:	cris_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Operating lease cash obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cris_OperatingLeaseCashObligation
Namespace Prefix:	cris_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Area of a real estate property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in security deposits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInSecurityDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date which lease or group of leases is set to expire, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 985

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 730

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420194&loc=d3e21568-108373

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of purchased research and development assets that are acquired in a business combination have no alternative future use and are therefore written off in the period of acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 730

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420194&loc=d3e21568-108373

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentInProcess
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investments which are not defined as or included in marketable (debt, equity, or other) securities whose use is restricted in whole or in part, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements. For use in an unclassified balance sheet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expense related to royalty payments under a contractual arrangement such as payment for mineral and drilling rights and use of technology or intellectual property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of an asset, typically cash, provided to a counterparty to provide certain assurance of performance by the entity pursuant to the terms of a written or oral agreement, such as a lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecurityDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Value of stock issued in lieu of cash for services contributed to the entity. Value of the stock issued includes, but is not limited to, services contributed by vendors and founders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueIssuedForServices
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 sqft	Dec. 31, 2012 Licensors	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Genentech IAP License [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 License Agreement Terms [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 License Agreement Terms [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 License Agreement Terms [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Financial Standby Letter of Credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015 Maximum [Member] 4 Maguire Road [Member] Letter of Credit [Member] Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Maximum [Member] 4 Maguire Road [Member] Letter of Credit [Member] Scenario, Forecast [Member]
License Agreement [Line Items]
Area of lease property		24,529
Expiry of lease		Jan. 31, 2018
Additional period for lease		5 years
Extension period for lease										1 year	18 months
Cash obligation for base rent over initial term		$ 4,401,000
Original amount of security deposit to lessor on form of irrevocable letter of credit									277,546
Security deposit in form of letter of credit considered as restricted investment	194,282	180,364	194,282
Reduction in security deposit												13,877	13,877
Rent expense for operating lease		614,000	614,000	614,000
Shares of common stock issued	81,065,488	87,081,862	81,065,488				200,000
Number of university licensors			2
Issuance of common stock to licensors			964,000				964,000
Research and development expense		12,926,834	15,492,302	13,692,659		500,000	2,114,000	908,000
Cost of royalty revenues		197,796	176,482
In-process research and development	$ 9,500,000		$ 9,500,000		$ 9,500,000