Systemic therapy of advanced metastatic malignant melanoma with a combination of fibroblast interferon-beta and recombinant interferon-gamma.
Eighteen patients with advanced metastatic malignant melanoma (stage IVUICC 1987) were entered into a prospective trial with a combination of systemic fibroblast interferon-beta and recombinant interferon-gamma. Treatment was performed over a 6-week period with 3 x 5 x 10(6) U i.v. interferon-beta and 5 X 100 micrograms s.c. interferon-gamma every week. Under this therapy 16 patients showed a progressive disease, and 2 patients had a stable disease. The median time of survival was 7.5 months. Successive immunological examinations showed no significant immunomodulating effect after the 6 weeks of interferon treatment. We conclude that the combination of interferon-beta and -gamma is insufficient in the treatment of advanced metastatic malignant melanoma when administered by this dose, route and schedule.
Kowalzick
L
L
Universitäts-Hautklinik und Poliklinik, Hamburg, BRD.
Weyer
U
U
Lange
P
P
Breitbart
E W
EW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma