Melanoma Vaccinesby Craig L. Slingluff, Jr., MD Rationale The treatment of patients with melanoma is primarily surgical. Despite appropriate surgical treatment, however, many patients will go on to die of their disease. The only systemic treatment shown to have any benefit in prevention of recurrence and metastasis is alfa-interferon. The exact role of this regimen remains in evolution. The high does regimen which is approved by the FDA in this setting is generally associated with a high morbidity, and the impact in survival is only modest. As a result, we are interested in considering for patients less morbid treatments that can be offered on an experimental basis. Immune-based therapies for melanoma are an exciting treatment approach. We are in an era of revolutionary developments in our understanding of the immune system in general and in our understanding of the immune response to cancer in particular. It is now possible to define the molecular targets of cellular immune responses to melanoma cells. A number of observations clinically and experimentally support the belief that the immune system is capable of recognizing and destroying melanoma cells and that immune responses against some melanoma antigens can be generated in vitro and in vivo. This is the basis for our enthusiasm in developing and offering to patients new immune-based therapies, many of which are in the form of vaccinations against the cancer. Patients Who are Candidates We currently have several vaccine therapy protocols available for patients with melanoma. These are experimental protocols that have been approved by the FDA for use in selected patients. Patients must be HLA-typed prior to participating and must express a certain HLA to be eligible. Our current trials include patients with stage IIB through IV melanoma. To learn more about the rationale, eligibility, and outline of specific trials, please read current trials for melanoma.
Vaccine Protocols in Development We are actively involved in developing vaccine protocols for an expanded group of patients. If you have patients who are interested in pursuing this sort of treatment, we would be happy to evaluate them. If we do not have something available now, we would be happy to keep the patient in mind and contact him or her once the new protocols are approved and available for use. I will also be happy to entertain or to respond to questions by e-mail cls8h@virginia.edu
Craig L. Slingluff, Jr., MD Take me back to Information |