A Phase II study of autologous irradiated tumor cells plus BCG in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma

Cancer. 1977 Nov;40(5):2091-3. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197711)40:5<2091::aid-cncr2820400517>3.0.co;2-h.

Abstract

Eighteen patients with surgically incurable metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with a mixture of irradiated (15,000 rads) autologous tumors cells (1-2 X 10(8)) and BCG (Glaxo, 2-4.5 X 10(6) organisms), which was injected intradermally (in five divided doses) every 2 weeks (X5). Four of 18 (22%) evaluable patients achieved objective remissions. It is concluded that this treatment regimen does not have general clinical application because the remissions were infrequent, of shor duration (median, 3 months) and occurred only in patients with minimal, nonvisceral tumor burdens.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • BCG Vaccine / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Male
  • Melanoma / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Remission, Spontaneous

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • BCG Vaccine