Study of Denileukin Diftitox in Participants With Stage IIIC and Stage IV Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria Participants may be entered in the study only if they meet all of the following criteria.

• Male or female participants greater than or equal to18 years of age;
• Participants with histologically confirmed melanoma (Stage IIIC or Stage IV, American Joint Commission on Cancer);
• Naive to prior systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapy (eg, BRAF), or immunotherapy (eg, interleukin-2 [IL-2] or interferon) for the treatment of melanoma, including any cytotoxic agents or IL-2 used for adjuvant therapy (adjuvant interferon is allowed). Prior granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is allowed;
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of 0 to 2;
• Life expectancy greater than or equal to 3 months;
• At least 1 site of radiographically measurable disease by immune-related response criteria (irRC);
• Serum albumin greater than or equal to 3 g/dL;
• Adequate hematologic, renal, and liver function as defined by laboratory values performed within 21 days prior to initiation of dosing:
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1.5 x 109/L;
• Platelet count greater than or equal to 100 x 10^9/L;
• Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 9 g/dL;
• Serum creatinine less than or equal 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 50 mL/min;
• Total serum bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN;
• Serum aspartate transaminase (AST/SGOT) or serum alanine transaminase (ALT/SGPT) less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN, and less than or equal to 5 x ULN if liver metastases are present.
• Fertile males should use an effective method of contraception during treatment and for at least 3 months after completion of treatment, as directed by their physician;
• Pre-menopausal females and females less than 2 years after the onset of menopause should have a negative pregnancy test at Screening. Pre-menopausal females must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control from the time of the negative pregnancy test up to 90 days after the last dose of study drug. Females of non-childbearing potential may be included if they are either surgically sterile or have been postmenopausal for greater than or equal to 1 year; Before study entry, written informed consent must be obtained from the participants prior to performing any study-related procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will not be entered in the study for any of the following:

• Known central nervous system (CNS) lesions, except for asymptomatic non-progressing, treated brain metastases.

Treated brain metastases are defined as having no evidence of progression or hemorrhage for 2 months, as ascertained by clinical examination and brain imaging (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] or computerized tomography [CT]) during the Screening period (using the pretreatment brain image as Baseline). Treatment for brain metastases must have been completed at least 2 months prior to Day 1 of the first treatment cycle and may include whole brain radiotherapy, radiosurgery (Gamma Knife, LINAC, or equivalent), or a combination as deemed appropriate by the treating physician. Dexamethasone must be discontinued at least 4 weeks prior to Day 1. Participants with CNS metastases treated by neurosurgical resection or brain biopsy performed within 2 months prior to Day 1 will be excluded;

• Carcinomatous meningitis;
• Prior treatment with denileukin diftitox;
• Known hypersensitivity to denileukin diftitox or any of its components: diphtheria toxin, IL-2, or excipients;
• Prior surgery for melanoma less than 4 weeks before enrollment;
• Other malignancy within 3 years of randomization, with the exception of adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or non-melanoma skin cancer, with no subsequent evidence of recurrence and/or malignancies diagnosed at a stage where definitive therapy results in near certain cures. The Medical Monitor must be consulted in such cases;
• Currently receiv