Study of gp75 Vaccine in Patients With Stage III and IV Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria: The patient has a diagnosis of American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) stage 111 or IV malignant melanoma. A patient who is free of disease after surgical resection of stage 111 or IV disease, but at high risk (defined as a primary tumor >4 rnm, satellite or in-transit lesions, one or more positive lymph nodes or distant metastases) for recurrence is also eligible. A patient with metastatic disease may have no more than five sites of disease. The skin represents one site regardless of the number of lesions. Stage 111 melanoma is defined as a pT4 primary tumor (>4m in depth or Clark level 5) in-transit metastases, satellites lesions or regional lymph nodes involved with melanoma.Pathology slides must be reviewed by the investigational site's Department of Pathology. The patient's Karnofsky performance status is 280 at study entry. The patient has given signed informed consent. The patient has had surgery for their melanoma at least 6 months prior to study entry, or has had prior interferon therapy, or developed unacceptable toxicities to interferon therapy, or has a pre-existing condition(s) that precludes the patient fkom receiving interferon treatment. The patient is 21 8 years of age. The patient must have completed any prior irradiation, chemotherapy, or systemic immunotherapy (interferon-alpha, or interleukin-2) at least 30 days prior to study entry. The patient has adequate hematologic function as defined as a platelet count 2100,000/mm3 and white blood cell (WBC) level 23,000/mm3. The patient has serum lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) within normal range and a serum creatinine level <2.0 mg/dL. The patient agrees to use effective contraception if procreative potential exists. Exclusion Criteria: The patient has stage I11 disease otherwise eligible to receive standard of care melanoma therapy. The patient has a medical condition or use of medication (eg, corticosteroids) that might make it difficult for the patient to complete the full course of treatments or to respond immunologically to them, in the opinion of the investigator. The patient has received irradiation, chemotherapy, or systemic immunotherapy (interferon-alpha, or interleukin-2) within 30 days prior to study entry. The patient is pregnant (confirmed by serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin [PHCG], if applicable) or is breast feeding. The patient has received any investigational agents within 30 days of study entry. The patient has received prior cancer vaccine therapy. The patient has evidence of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis. The patient has evidence of an ocular abnormality, as detected by a slit-lamp ophthalmologic examination, within 4 weeks prior to study entry.