title: [Treatment of metastatic melanoma with dacarbazine recombinant interferon alfa 2A combination: results of multicentric study].
abstract: Fifty patients suffering from histologically proven metastatic melanoma were treated with a combination of DTIC (400 mg/m2 i.v. every 28 days) and recombinant alpha 2A interferon (Roferon-A) 10 x 10(6) U/m2 daily, administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously for 2 months followed by 7 x 10(6) U/m2 3 times a week. Treatment was carried out for a period of 12 months unless progressive disease was noted after 3 months. Among the 49 evaluable patients, 6 achieved a complete response (CR) and 4 a partial response (PR) (response rate, 20%) at 2 months, 8 CR and 3 PR (25%) and 8 CR and 2 PR (23%; 95% confidence limits, 13-40%) occurred at month 6 and 12 respectively These responses occurred notably in patients with cutaneous (3 cases) or lymph node metastases (4 cases), but 3 responses included visceral sites: lung (1 CR), liver (1CR and 1PR). Average response duration was 16.5 months (range 4-29 + months). The time required for objective response can be up to 6 months, which suggest that treatment should receive a reasonable trial period (at least 3 months). Clinical toxicity consisted mainly of a flu-like syndrome, anorexia and fever, and occurred in more than 50% of patients; hematologic and hepatic toxicities required a dose reduction in 54% of patients but in only one case did treatment have to be terminated because of this. Seventeen (35%) of the patients are still alive, 4 with metastases (follow-up period: 18-34 + months) and 13 without metastases (follow-up period: 13-32 + months). A combined regimen of r-IFN alpha 2A and dacarbazine is effective in treating patients with metastatic melanoma, with acceptable toxicities and a reasonable quality of life (out-patient treatment or district nurse care). The objective response rate (23% at 12 months) compares favourably with those of earlier trials using the same combination of drugs, and occurred not only in cutaneous and lymph node metastases but also in visceral metastases.
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Avril
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beerblock
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dreno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delaunay
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bonerandi
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Souteyrand
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chevrant-Breton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verret
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003606:Dacarbazine
vernacular_title: Traitement du mélanome métastatique par l'association dacarbazine-interféron-alpha-2-A recombinant: résultats d'une étude multicentrique.