title: A phase II study of metastatic melanoma treated with a combination of interferon alfa 2b, dacarbazine and nimustine.
abstract: 52 patients with metastatic melanoma have been treated with a combination of recombinant interferon-alfa-2b, dacarbazine and nimustine. The objective response rate was 23% with 9 complete responses (CR) and 3 partial responses (PR). The mean duration of the response was 18+ months for CR (6-31+ months) and 7 months for PR patients (4-10 months). The mean survivals were 24+ months (8-38 months) and 7 months (4-12 months), respectively. The mean duration of the response for patients with stable disease was 10+ months (2-48+ months) and the mean survival 17+ months (3-48+ months), while the patients with progressive disease died within 12 months (mean 4 months). The best responding sites were the lymph node, the lung and the subcutaneous metastases. Myelosuppression was the main adverse effect of the therapy. WHO grade 3-4 toxicity was seen in 27 patients leading to delay and reduced dosage of therapy; in 4 patients treatment was discontinued, 8 patients had no side effects. Combination therapy with interferon and dacarbazine and nimustine for metastatic melanoma offers no advantage over interferon and dacarbazine.
authors.affiliation: Eerontie 1 B, Espoo, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gröhn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumpulainen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nuortio
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakala
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vuoristo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korpela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakobsson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Numminen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015376:Nimustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015376:Nimustine; D003606:Dacarbazine