Determine the clinical response, by serial objective measurements, in patients with melanoma treated with boron neutron capture therapy. Determine the time course, uniformity, and severity of acute dermal reactions in patients treated with this regimen. Determine the late dermal reactions in patients who are followed for at least 6 months after treatment with this regimen. Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to tumor size (no greater than 15 cc vs greater than 15 cc).
Patients undergo boron neutron capture therapy.
Patients are followed for 3 years.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 36 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.
Lesion(s) to be irradiated must be located in 1 of the following areas:
On an extremity On the head or neck (including the scalp) In the subdermal lymphatics (excluding the proximal axilla)
Area to be irradiated must not exceed a maximum dimension of 10 cm
Maximum tumor depth from the surface of the skin cannot exceed 6 cm
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age
18 and over
Performance status
ECOG 0-1
Life expectancy
More than 6 months
Hematopoietic
Not specified
Hepatic
Not specified
Renal
Creatinine normal
Cardiovascular
No history of severe cardiac disease No uncontrolled arrhythmias or conduction defects No unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris No recent coronary artery disease No congestive heart failure
Other
Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test No history of phenylketonuria Must have sufficient mental competence
