Phase II study of marimastat (BB-2516) in malignant melanoma: a clinical and tumor biopsy study of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group.

Objectives: To determine the tolerability and efficacy of daily oral marimastat (BB-2516 in patients with metastatic melanoma and to determine the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, tumour necrosis, peri- and intra-tumoral fibrosis and tumor inflammation in pre- and post-treatment tumor biopsies.

Patients And Methods: Patients with measurable metastatic melanoma who had received no more than one prior chemotherapy regimen and lesions accessible for biopsy were eligible. The first 18 were treated with 100 mg p.