Chemoablation of metastatic melanoma using intralesional Rose Bengal

Abstract

To study the effects of intralesional Rose Bengal for chemoablation of metastatic melanoma. Twenty-six target lesions in 11 patients with locoregionally recurrent disease were injected with the agent PV-10 (10% w/v Rose Bengal in saline) at a dose of 0.5 ml/cc lesion volume. An additional 28 untreated lesions were observed for potential bystander effect. The treatment was well tolerated and an objective response was observed in 12 target lesions, with an additional seven lesions remaining static over at least 12 weeks of observation. In this dose-evaluation study, response rate was dose dependent, increasing to 69% after higher dose injections. Nontarget lesions exhibited a 27% objective response rate that increased to 44% in patients exhibiting a positive response of target lesions. These findings indicate that intralesional Rose Bengal is nontoxic and could benefit patients with metastatic melanoma.