A phase II study of spirogermanium in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma

The National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group conducted a phase II study of spirogermanium given daily for 5 days every 3 weeks to previously untreated patients with malignant melanoma. In 21 evaluable patients one complete response was seen (response rate 5%). Disease progression occurred in the other 20 patients. Toxicity was primarily neurologic and mild or moderate in most patients, though there was one treatment related death. In this schedule spirogermanium has extremely limited activity against malignant melanoma and will not contribute significantly to the systemic therapy of this disease.