Uveal melanoma is a rare type of melanoma. It is very hard to treat once it has spread to other parts of the body. Dacarbazine and interleukin-2, two drugs approved to treat advanced melanoma, sometimes work for skin melanoma, but only rarely work for uveal melanoma.
The purpose of this study is to find out if treatment with an investigational drug called AZD6244 or temozolomide (the pill form of dacarbazine) can stop metastatic uveal melanoma from growing. AZD6244 is a pill that blocks a protein called MEK. Most uveal melanomas grow because of MEK over-activity. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive AZD6244 or temozolomide.
This study is being conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering as well as several other sites in the United States.
To be eligible for this study, patients must meet several criteria, including but not limited to the following:
For more information and to inquire about eligibility for this study, please contact Dr. Richard D. Carvajal at 646-888-4164.