Regression of cutaneous metastatic melanoma by intralesional injection with human monoclonal antibody to ganglioside GD2.

In this study we used human monoclonal antibody (Hu-mAb) L72 as an intratumoral injection of cutaneous metastasis of melanoma to study its anti-tumor effects in human patients. Hu-mAb L72 was developed by transforming peripheral blood lymphocytes from a melanoma patient in vitro with the Epstein-Barr virus, forming a human lymphoblastoid cell line that produces 2-5 micrograms of IgM per ml. This IgM Hu-mAb was shown to react specifically with ganglioside GD2 and have a strong cytotoxic effect on human melanoma cells in the presence of complement. Patients with cutaneous metastatic melanoma were given intralesional injections on a daily or weekly injection schedule. Regression was seen in all tumors except in those of two patients whose tumors were shown to have low antigenicity. Histopathological data showed tumor degeneration, fibrosis, free melanin, and some degree of lymphocyte or macrophage infiltration. One patient with melanoma satellitosis treated with Hu-mAb showed complete regression with no sign of recurrence 20 months after the initial treatment. With the exception of mild erythema, no side effects were observed in any patient.