title: Treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma with intensive melphalan and autologous bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: Twenty patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with melphalan (180-225 mg/m2 iv over 3 days) followed by re-infusion of previously harvested and cryopreserved autologous bone marrow. Granulocyte (greater than 500/microliter) and platelet (greater than 20,000/microliter) count recovery occurred a median of 14 days (range, 12-22) and 19.0 days (range, 12-28) after bone marrow transplantation, respectively. Three patients died due to hemorrhage or infection. One of these patients and another (who ultimately achieved a complete response), both with brain metastases, developed intralesional hemorrhage when the platelet count was only moderately reduced. Complete responses occurred in six patients and ranged from 4 to 14 months, with a median of 5 months. Six patients achieved a partial remission lasting 2-5 months. High-dose melphalan and autologous bone marrow transplantation are a promising therapy for patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D008558:Melphalan