Positive phase II trial of dibromodulcitol in patients with metastatic melanoma refractory to DTIC and a nitrosourea.

Twenty-five patients with measurable metastatic melanoma refractory to DTIC and a nitrosourea were treated with dibromodulcitol (DBD). DBD was administered orally at bedtime at a dose of 100 mg/m2/day until hematologic toxicity (a greater than or equal to 50% decrease in the wbc or platelet count) was induced. Five patients experienced clinically useful objective remissions; responding lesions included both soft tissue metastases and visceral metastatic disease. It is concluded that DBD is useful in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma and thus joins DTIC and the nitrosoureas as single agents which are active against this malignancy.