Allovectin-7 therapy in metastatic melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Patients with metastatic melanoma are immunosuppressed by the growing tumor. Allovectin-7 therapy is a form of active immunotherapy that aims at immunization of the host with substances designed to elicit an immune reaction that will eliminate or slow down the growth and spread of the cancer.


OBJECTIVE
to describe the rationale for immunotherapy with Allovectin-7 and assess its safety profile and efficacy based on the results of completed melanoma clinical trials.


METHODS
we reviewed both the published medical literature and the results of trials pending publication.


CONCLUSIONS
Allovectin-7 is a safe and active immunotherapeutic agent. It induces local and systemic durable responses in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Bedikian
Agop Y
AY
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Box 430, Houston, TX 77030, USA. abedikia@mdanderson.org
Del Vecchio
Michele
M
D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D019139:Tumor Escape; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
C096492:Allovectin-7; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D015793:HLA-B7 Antigen; D008055:Lipids; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; C087276:(3-dimyristyloxypropyl)(dimethyl)(hydroxyethyl)ammonium; C094877:dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine