title: Fotemustine plus dacarbazine for malignant melanoma.
abstract: 119 patients with metastatic melanoma received fotemustine 100 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and dacarbazine 250 mg/m2 on days 15-18. After a 5-week rest, fotemustine 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and dacarbazine 250 mg/m2 on days 2-5 was given every 3-4 weeks. 12 complete responses (11.6%) and 16 partial responses were observed in 103 evaluable patients (response rate 27.2%). The median duration of response was 21.5+ weeks (8+ to 53+). The response rate was 26.3% in CNS, 18.2% in visceral sites and 37.5% in non-visceral sites. The toxicity was mainly haematological: grade III-IV leukopenia in 27.4% and thrombocytopenia in 23.4%. The response rate was lower than that in 63 patients previously reported. The present series had a higher median age (54 vs. 40 years) without any differences in other population variables. However, activity on CNS metastases and on non-visceral sites was confirmed. Haematological toxicity was about 50% lower than that with fotemustine alone. Hence, this is an active outpatient regimen for metastatic melanoma, especially against cerebral and non-visceral metastases.
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, Service de Dermatologie, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Avril
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bonneterre
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cupissol
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fumoleau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kerbrat
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Israel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fargeot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D003606:Dacarbazine; C054368:fotemustine