Trial of Imatinib (Gleevec®) in Selected Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

Only patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled. The estimated recruitment duration is 1 year. Imatinib will be given in the dose of 400 mg orally each day unless disease progression or intolerance. The follow-up is 12 months. Forty-eight subjects will be recruited for this study. This sample size is justified by the number of patients required to establish an improvement in PFS with statistical significance compared to historical control. The standardized RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) method of unidimensional tumor assessment will be employed to evaluate tumor lesion size per 2 months in the determination of response rate and progression free survival. Repeated radiographic assessment at 4 week intervals is consistent with general oncological practice associated with computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan testing. All efficacy endpoints will be evaluated by the investigator. Safety will be characterized in terms of the incidence, timing, severity, and relatedness of adverse events and laboratory abnormalities. Severity will be graded according to the NCI CTCAE Version 3.0.