Phase II Study to Assess the Safety and Immunogenicity of recMAGE-A3+AS15 ASCI With or Without Poly IC:LC

Inclusion Criteria:

Written informed consent for the study will be obtained prior to the performance of MAGE-A3 expression screening on resected tumor tissue or any other protocol-specific procedure.
Male or female patient with histologically proven and completely resected stage IV cutaneous or mucosal melanoma. In terms of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification [AJCC, 2009], this means that patients with resected M1a-b-c (stage IV) disease may be enrolled.
The patient must have been surgically rendered free of disease no more than 12 weeks before the randomization.
Patient is equal to or greater than 18 years old at the time of signing the informed consent form.
The patient's tumor shows expression of the MAGE-A3 gene, as determined by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) analysis on paraffin imbedded tumor tissue (FFPE). In all patients in whom it can be obtained, a frozen portion of the resected tumor will be analyzed for gene profiling.
The patient has fully recovered from surgery.
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 at the time of randomization.
The patient must have adequate bone-marrow reserve, adequate renal function and adequate hepatic function as assessed by standard laboratory criteria: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) equal to or greater than 1.5 x 10^9/L, Platelet count equal to or greater than 75 x 10^9/L, Serum creatinine equal to or less than 1.5 times the Upper Limit of Normal (ULN), Total bilirubin equal to or less than 1.5 times the ULN, Transaminase (ALT - AST) equal to or less than 2.5 times the ULN
If the patient is female, she must be of non-childbearing potential, i.e. have a current tubal ligation, hysterectomy, ovariectomy or be post menopausal, or if she is of childbearing potential, she must practice adequate contraception for 30 days prior to randomization, have a negative pregnancy test and continue such precautions during the entire study treatment period and for 2 months after completion of the injection series.
Men must also agree to use an adequate method of contraception.
In the opinion of the investigator, the patient can and will comply with all the requirements of the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

The patient has an ocular melanoma.
The patient has in-transit metastases.
The patient has been treated or is scheduled to be treated with an adjuvant anticancer therapy after the metastasectomy that qualifies the patient for inclusion in the present trial.
One prior systemic treatment with an immunomodulator (i.e., interferon, vaccine and/or anti-CTLA-4) after a previous surgery is permitted, provided that the last dose has been administered at least 45 days before randomization in the present trial.
Previous radiotherapy is permitted, provided that the treatment has been completed before the surgery that qualifies the patient for participation in the present trial.
The patient requires concomitant chronic treatment (more than 7 consecutive days) with systemic corticosteroids or any other immunosuppressive agents. The use of prednisone, or equivalent, at a dose of < 0.125 mg/kg/day (absolute maximum 10 mg/day) or topical steroids is permitted.
Use of any investigational or non-registered product (drug or vaccine) other than the study treatment within 30 days preceding the randomization or planned use during the study period.
The patient has a history of autoimmune disease such as, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with vitiligo are not excluded.
The patient has a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency.
The patient is known to be positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or has another confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient condition.
History of allergic disease or reactions likely to be exacerbated by any component of the treatments.
The patient has psychiatric or addictive disorders that may compromise his/her ability to give informed consent or to comply with the trial procedures.
The patient has concurrent severe medical problems, unrelated to the malignancy, that would significantly limit full compliance with the study or expose the patient to unacceptable risk.
The patient has previous or concomitant malignancies at other sites, except effectively treated non-melanoma skin cancers or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or effectively treated malignancy that has been in remission for over 5 years and is highly likely to have been cured.
The patient has an uncontrolled bleeding disorder.
For female patients: the patient is pregnant or lactating.