A Trial of ABI-007 Versus Dacarbazine in Previously Untreated Patients With Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed cutaneous malignant melanoma with evidence
of metastasis (Stage IV).

- No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for metastatic malignant melanoma is permitted. Prior
treatment with kinase inhibitors or cytokines is permitted.

- No prior adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy is permitted. Prior adjuvant therapy with
interferon, Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and/or vaccines
is permitted.

- Male or non-pregnant and non-lactating female, and ≥ 18 years of age. If a female
patient is of child-bearing potential, as evidenced by regular menstrual periods, she
must have a negative serum pregnancy test Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG)
within 72 hours prior to first study drug administration. If sexually active, the
patient must agree to utilize contraception considered adequate and appropriate by
the investigator.

- No other current active malignancy within the past 3 years.

- Radiographically-documented measurable disease (defined by the presence of at least 1
radiographically documented measurable lesion

- Patient has the following blood counts at Baseline:

- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 10^9 cells/L;

- platelets ≥ 100 x 10^9 cells/L;

- Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 g/dL.

- Patient has the following blood chemistry levels at Baseline:

- Aspartate aminotransferase(AST) glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT) serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 2.5x upper limit
of normal range (ULN); ≤ 5.0 xULN if hepatic metastases present;

- total bilirubin ≤ ULN;

- creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL.

- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) ≤ 2.0 x ULNa

- Expected survival of > 12 weeks.

- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1.

- Patient or his/her legally authorized representative or guardian has been informed
about the nature of the study, and has agreed to participate in the study, and signed
the Informed Consent form prior to participation in any study-related activities.

Exclusion Criteria:

- History of or current evidence of brain metastases, including leptomeningeal
involvement.

- Patient has pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of National Cancer Institute Common
Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) Scale of Grade ≥ 2.

- Prior radiation to a target lesion is permitted only if there has been clear
progression of the lesion since radiation was completed.

- Patient has a clinically significant concurrent illness.

- Patient is, in the investigator's opinion, unlikely to be able to complete the study
through the End of Study (EOS) visit.

- Patient is currently enrolled, or will enroll in a different clinical study in which
investigational therapeutic procedures are performed or investigational therapies are
administered while participating in this study. Marker studies or studies evaluating
biological correlates are permitted.

- Patient has serious medical risk factors involving any of the major organ systems
such that the investigator considers it unsafe for the patient to receive an
experimental research drug.