title: Combination chemotherapy with vinblastine, BCNU and cisplatin in advanced malignant melanoma.
abstract: A combination chemotherapy including vinblastine (6 mg/m2 i.v. days 1-2), BCNU (100 mg/m2 i.v. day 3), and cisplatin (50 mg/m2 i.v. day 5) was given as salvage treatment in 46 consecutive, previously treated patients affected by metastatic malignant melanoma. Courses were planned every 4 weeks provided that a complete bone marrow recovery occurred, otherwise they were delayed for 1-2 additional weeks. Objective responses (3 CRs and 10 PRs) were observed in 13/46 (28%) patients; 12 cases had stable disease and 21 patients progressive disease during treatment. Median duration of response was 13 months (range, 5-18), and median survival was 11 months (range, 3-20) for all patients. Nausea and vomiting were the most distressing side effects, whereas a grade I leukopenia caused a delayed treatment in 90% of patients. In conclusion, the combination chemotherapy was moderately toxic and did not seem to give substantially better results than obtained with other reported regimens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology A, National Tumor Institute, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daponte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casaretti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iervolino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santillo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zarrilli
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine; D002945:Cisplatin; D002330:Carmustine