Immunotherapy for malignant melanoma with a tumor cell vaccine.

Specific active immunotherapy for melanoma has been administered to several thousand patients since 1972, using an irradiated whole-cell preparation. A humoral response to vaccination can be demonstrated in a large percentage of patients. This response increases while immunizations are continued and decreases after cessation of therapy. The vaccinations are well tolerated; however, the therapeutic impact of this whole-cell vaccine awaits a randomized trial for definitive evaluation.