Immunotoxin therapy of malignant melanoma.

Current standard therapies for metastatic malignant melanoma are poor, and surgical excision of disease remains the cornerstone of melanoma management. Unmodified monoclonal antibodies have been used therapeutically in this, and other, malignancies, but results have been disappointing. This has led to attempts to improve the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies by using them to target therapeutic modalities to tumors. These therapeutic modalities include chemotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic and cytotoxic agents. An example of the latter is ricin A-chain, which is so potent that it has been reported that one molecule of it entering the cytosol is sufficient to cause cell death. Preclinical studies support the potential of immunotoxins as effective therapy for malignancy. A phase I-II trial of immunotoxin therapy of malignant melanoma has been completed and a trial to determine clinical efficacy has been implemented.