Combination therapy for advanced malignant melanoma with BCNU, pseudomonas vaccine, and heparin

A study was undertaken to investigate the addition of heparin and pseudomonas vaccine to BCNU in the treatment of patients with progressive malignant melanoma refractory to front-line therapeutic regimens containing DTIC. Out of 27 evaluable patients, there was one partial remission (4%), and an additional ten patients (41%) had at least stable disease with a median survival time of 39 weeks compared to 15 weeks for those with progressive disease. The therapy was well tolerated. A schedule of pseudomonas vaccine that seemed to be tolerated has been established.