Taxoprexin® Treatment for Advanced Eye Melanoma

This is a Phase II open-label study of weekly Taxoprexin® Injection in patients with metastatic choroidal melanoma who may be previously untreated or have received one prior systemic cytotoxic regimen for advanced disease. Patients may not have been treated previously with taxanes. Patients may have been previously treated with immunological agents including interleukin-2 and vaccines. Patients will receive Taxoprexin® Injection at a dose of 500mg/m2 intravenously by 1-hour infusion weekly for the first five weeks of a six week cycle. Treatment will continue until progression of disease, intolerable toxicity, refusal of continued treatment by patient or Investigator decision.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must have histologic or cytologic confirmation of malignant eye melanoma, and documented metastatic disease.
• Patients must have at least one unidimensionally measurable lesion.
• Patients may be previously untreated or may have received one prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease. Patients may not have been treated previously with taxanes. Prior treatment with immunotherapy or vaccine therapy is allowed.
• At least 6 weeks (42 days) since any prior immunotherapy, cytokine, biologic, vaccine or other therapy.
• At least 4 weeks (28 days) since prior radiotherapy to > 20% of the bone marrow and prior adjuvant chemotherapy.
• Lesions being used to assess disease status may not have been radiated or if so, must have progressed during or after radiation therapy.
• Patients must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 - 2.
• Patients must be at least 13 years of age.
• Patients must have adequate liver and renal function.
• Patients must have adequate bone marrow function.
• Patients must sign an informed consent form indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study and in keeping with the policies of the institution.

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Exclusion criteria

• Patients who have received prior therapy with any taxane.
• Patients whose site of primary melanoma is not in the choroid(eye).
• Patients who have a past or current history of neoplasm other than the entry diagnosis, except for curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or other cancers treated for cure and with a disease-free survival longer than 5 years.
• Patients with symptomatic brain metastasis (es).
• Patients who are pregnant or nursing and patients who are not practicing an acceptable method of birth control. Patients may not breastfeed while on this study.
• Patients with current active infections requiring anti-infectious treatment (e.g., antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals).
• Patients with current peripheral neuropathy of any etiology that is greater than grade one (1).
• Patients with unstable or serious concurrent medical conditions are excluded.
• Patients with a known hypersensitivity to Cremophor.
• Patients with Gilbert's Syndrome.
• Patients must not have had major surgery within the past 14 days.
• Patients must not receive any concurrent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy while on study.
• Known HIV disease or infection.

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