title: Single-dose dacarbazine and dactinomycin in advanced malignant melanoma.
abstract: Twenty-one patients with advanced malignant melanoma were treated with dacarbazine at a dose of 800 mg/m2 as a single infusion and dactinomycin at a dose of 1.2 mg/m2 every 3 weeks. Hematologic toxicity was mild and gastrointestinal toxicity was tolerable. The response rate for evaluable patients was 22%, which included both men and women with visceral disease. Three of the four responses were complete. Durations of response were 4, 6, 9, and 48+ months. We conclude that dacarbazine can be safely and effectively given as a single dose along with dactinomycin. The possibility that this combination may be more effective than single agents in obtaining complete responses in patients with visceral disease must be explored further.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010976:Platelet Count; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003609:Dactinomycin; D003606:Dacarbazine