A Phase I/II Study of Dasatinib and Dacarbazine

The purpose of this study is to:

Phase I Objectives:

* Find the most tolerated dose to use for Phase II
* Collect information on how the body responds to this combination of study drug

Phase II Objectives:

* To determine the overall response of participants using this combination of study drug

The expression of proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase (Src), a substance present in a significant proportion of melanomas plays a role in the growth, multiplying, and dividing of cancer cells. Melanoma cells appear to be sensitive to these agents that block the action of Src in concentrations that can be achieved in patients. We suggest that Src inhibitors (such as Dasatinib) may be a good choice for treatment of melanoma in combination with Dacarbazine (a chemotherapy drug that can cause the shrinkage of melanomas). We wish to to evaluate the Src inhibitor Dasatinib in combination with the chemotherapy drug Dacarbazine. The novel oral Src inhibitor Dasatinib may be able to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy for melanoma compared to chemotherapy alone. Dacarbazine is a standard treatment for melanoma currently. The effectiveness of this chemotherapy drug may be increased by combination with Dasatinib. Dacarbazine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating melanoma; Dasatinib has been approved by the FDA to treat leukemia, but it has not been approved alone or in combination with Dacarbazine to treat melanoma.

Patient will receive Dacarbazine intravenously (IV), which means it is given through a needle in a vein in the arm or through a venous port (if patient already has one). Dasatinib will be given orally starting day 2 for 17 days straight (days 2 through 19) starting the day after patient receives their first dose of Dacarbazine. The therapy will be repeated every 21 days (21 days = 1 cycle). Patient may be given other drugs before each cycle to help reduce side effects of the therapy. If patient experiences severe side effects, the amount of Dacarbazine and/or Dasatinib they receive in future cycles may be decreased.

Cycle 1 day 1:

* Dacarbazine Intravenous
* Toxicity assessment - evaluation of any side effects that patient may be experiencing
* Medical history\*
* Physical examination\* - measure height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, temperature, assessment of patient's energy and activity level (Eastern Cooperative Group \[ECOG\] Performance Status)
* Blood tests (3 tablespoons) for safety tests\*- Complete blood count with differential and platelets (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic profile (CMP), \& Magnesium test \*(certain tests may not need to be performed if they were performed during screening within 1 week; study doctor will tell patient if they need to have these tests redone)

Cycle 1 day 8:

* Toxicity assessment - (these will be done for the first cycle of treatment, but will be discontinued for later cycles unless deemed necessary by study doctor)
* CBC - (1 tablespoon) (this will be done for the first cycle of treatment, but will be discontinued for later cycles unless deemed necessary by study doctor)
* Dasatinib orally

Cycle 1 day 15:

* Toxicity assessment - (these will be done for the first cycle of treatment, but will be discontinued for later cycles unless deemed necessary by study doctor)
* CBC - (1 tablespoon) these will be done for the first cycle of treatment, but will be discontinued for later cycles unless deemed necessary by study doctor)
* Dasatinib orally
* Blood sample for pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis

Patient will also take Dasatinib orally as instructed days: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 each cycle.

Day 1 for all cycles after the first cycle:

* Dacarbazine Intravenous (IV)
* Dasatinib orally
* Medical history
* Physical examination: measure height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, temperature, assessment of patient's energy and activity level (ECOG Performance Status)
* Blood tests (2 tablespoon) for safety tests: CMP \& CBC
* An electrocardiogram (EKG)
* Computed tomography (CT) scan (done every other cycle starting with cycle 2)
* Toxicity assessment

If patient decides not to continue participation in this study or is taken off the study by their study doctor or the sponsor they will return to the clinic for one more visit.

During this visit the following procedures will be performed:

* Medical history
* Perform a physical examination: measure height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, temperature, assessment of patient's energy and activity level (Eastern Cooperative Group \[ECOG\] Performance Status)
* Blood tests (2 tablespoons) for safety tests: CBC \& CMP
* Toxicity assessment Patient will need to take their assigned Dasatinib dose twice daily. It may be taken with or without food.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically or cytologically proven melanoma with Stage IV or unresectable stage III disease
* Resolution of all acute toxic effects of prior radiotherapy or surgical procedures to National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 3.0 grade ≤1.
* Adequate organ function as defined by the following criteria:

  * Serum aspartate transaminase (AST); serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum alanine transaminase (ALT); serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤2.5 x local laboratory upper limit of normal (ULN), or AST and ALT less than or equal to 5 x ULN if liver function abnormalities are due to underlying malignancy
  * Total serum bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN
  * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/µL
  * Platelets ≥100,000/µL
  * Hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL (may be transfused or erythropoietin treated)
  * Serum calcium ≤12.0 mg/dL
  * Serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN
* Patients with CNS metastasis must have had either; a) resected central nervous system (CNS) metastasis without evidence of recurrence for \>12 weeks; b) Brain metastasis treated by stereotactic radiosurgery without evidence of recurrence or progression for 12 weeks; Or, c) Multiple brain lesions treated with whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) with stable disease off corticosteroids for at least 12 weeks prior to start of therapy; and, d)Without any evidence of leptomeningeal disease. Patients must be neurologically intact.
* May have previous adjuvant therapy with interferon, vaccines or therapy with IL-2 or GM-CSF
* Measurable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria is required in the Phase II portion of the trial. In the phase I part of the trial patients with evaluable but not measurable disease may be allowed with the permission of the Principal Investigator (PI)
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS 0-2

Exclusion Criteria:

* Major surgery or radiation therapy within 4 weeks of starting the study treatment.
* NCI CTCAE grade 2 or greater hemorrhage within 4 weeks of starting the study treatment.
* History of or known carcinomatous meningitis, or evidence of symptomatic leptomeningeal disease on screening CT or MRI scan.
* Any of the following within the 6 months prior to study drug administration: myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina, coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft, symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, or pulmonary embolism.
* Ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of NCI CTCAE grade ≥2.
* QTc \>470 msec on baseline EKG.
* Hypertension that cannot be controlled by medications (\>150/100 mm Hg despite optimal medical therapy).
* Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related illness or other active infection
* Ongoing treatment with therapeutic doses of warfarin (low dose warfarin up to 2 mg orally (po) daily for thromboembolism prophylaxis is allowed).
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Female patients must be surgically sterile or be postmenopausal, or must agree to use effective contraception during the period of therapy. All female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) prior to enrollment. Male patients must be surgically sterile or must agree to use effective contraception during the period of therapy. The definition of effective contraception will be based on the judgment of the principal investigator or a designated associate.
* Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, or may interfere with the interpretation of study results, and in the judgment of the investigator would make the subject inappropriate for entry into this study.
* May not have had previous treatment with a Dacarbazine (DTIC) or temozolomide based chemotherapy regimen. In the Phase II part of the trial patients may not have had treatment with any chemotherapy regimen