title: Cytotoxic chemotherapy of disseminated cutaneous malignant melanoma--a prospective and randomized clinical trial of procarbazine, vindesine and lomustine versus procarbazine, DTIC and lomustine.
abstract: Forty-three patients with measurable disseminated cutaneous malignant melanoma, stages III-IV, and without previous cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy, were randomly allocated from 30 June 1980 to 30 November 1984, to receive either a schedule of procarbazine (100 mg/m2 p.o., max 150 mg) days 1-10, vindesine (3 mg/m2 i.v., max 5 mg) days 1 and 8, and CCNU (150 mg/m2 p.o., max 200 mg) day 1, (regimen A), with 4-6 weeks interval between the courses, or a combination of procarbazine (100 mg/m2 p.o., max 150 mg) days 1-10, DTIC (250 mg/m2 i.v. max 400 mg) days 1-5, and CCNU (150 mg/m2 p.o. max 200 mg) day 1 (regimen B), also repeated every 4-6 weeks. Twenty-one patients were treated according to regimen A and 22, by regimen B. Objective responses (three PR, two CR) were seen in 5 out of 21 patients (23.8%) in group A and 8 out of 22 (four PR, four CR), (36%) in the group B, this difference not being statistically significant. The median duration of response was 8 and 10 months, respectively, and the estimated median survival 10 months for regimen A and 14 months for regimen B. Regimens A and B must be regarded as of no value in view of poor response rate and the unacceptable toxicity, respectively. Therefore, we are now conducting a further phase II study, to determine, prospectively, whether the previously noted high response rate obtained with our previous POC protocol can be reaffirmed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011344:Procarbazine; D008130:Lomustine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D014751:Vindesine