The overall objective of this research is to evaluate the potential efficacy of hormonoconjugate therapy for melanoma. Researchers will conjugate several different proteins or peptides to the hormone MSH and attempt to deliver these to murine B16 melanoma. The goal is to use MSH as a vehicle for delivering an immunogenic molecule to the B16 cell membrane, thereby providing a target for immune destruction of the tumor cells. To accomplish this, the conjugates will be synthesized and their activity examined in vitro. Conjugates that retain receptor binding activity will next be evaluated for their immunogenicity and for their ability to localize to B16 cells in vivo. Finally, appropriate conjugates will be used for in situ manipulation of the immunogenicity of B16 cells. Satisfactory completion of this research should lead into the development of single-agent therapy for melanoma.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
