Dendritic Cell Based Therapy of Malignant Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically proven progressive metastatic or locally advanced melanoma
• No standard treatment indicated
• Age: > 18
• WHO-Performance Status 0-1
• At least tone measurable tumor lesions according to the RECIST criteria.
• Life expectancy more than 3 months
• Acceptable CBC and blood chemistry results
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a history of any other neoplastic disease less than 5 years ago (excepting treated carcinomas in situ of the cervix and basal/squamous cell carcinomas of the skin).
• Patients with metastatic disease in the central nervous system (CNS).
• Patients with other significant illness including severe allergy, asthma, angina pectoris or congestive heart failure.
• Patients with acute or chronic infection including HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
• Patients who are pregnant.
• Patients who have received antineoplastic therapy including chemotherapy or immunotherapy less than 4 weeks before beginning the trial.
• Patients who receive corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents.
• Baseline serum LDH greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal.
• Patients with active autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis or thyroiditis.