Marrow autotransplantation accelerates haematological recovery in patients with malignant melanoma treated with high-dose melphalan.
In a Phase I study, melphalan 140 mg/m2 was administered to 8 patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. Marrow was removed from the patients immediately before melphalan administration and returned i.v. 8 h later. Studies on marrow culture and melphalan pharmacokinetics predicted that this was a safe time to administer non-cryopreserved marrow. Four patients received lower doses of i.v. melphalan without autologous marrow. In the group receiving autologous marrow the time for recovery of peripheral-blood granulocytes to 800/mm2 or greater was significantly less (P = 0.01) than in those not receiving marrow. In 7 patients the tumour showed evidence of response to the drug and there was 1 complete remission. This treatment deserves investigation in patients with tumours more sensitive to drugs than melanoma.
D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D008558:Melphalan