Annually in the U.S. there is an estimated 40,000 new cases of malignant melanoma and 7000 deaths. This disease is becoming more common with its incidence increasing at a more rapid rate in the past decade than that of any other cancer except lung cancer in women. Metastatic disease responds poorly to the usual treatments with only 2 out of 30 drugs tested, DTIC and nitrosoureas, showing response rates greater than 10%. Complete responses are rare.