Pilot study of vinblastine and bleomycin combinations in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Fourteen patients with advanced metastatic malignant melanoma were entered in a study with a combination of vinblastine and bleomycin (11 patients) or with this combination plus cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (three patients). Objective partial responses were seen in four of nine evaluable patients receiving vinblastine and bleomycin and in all three evaluable patients receiving vinblastine, bleomycin, and cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II). Although there was significant toxicity, it appeared tolerable, and no drug deaths were reported. The three drug-combination may produce less severe toxicity while maintaining a high response rate.