Human high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen (HMW-MAA) mimicry bymouse anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody MK2-23: induction of humoral anti-HMW-MAA immunity and prolongation of survival in patients with stage IV melanoma

The humoral immune response illicited by monoclonal antibody (mAb) MK2-23 in melanoma patients wascharacterized in a clinical trial. Twenty-five patients with stage IV melanoma were immunized with the mouse anti-idiotypic mAb MK2-23. Only 14 patients developed antibodies and the survival of these patients was significantly longer than those without detectable humoral anti-high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen immunity development. This suggest that mAb MK-23 may be a useful immunogen to implement active specific immunotherapy in patients with melanoma.