title: Treatment with coumarin to prevent or delay recurrence of malignant melanoma.
abstract: Both coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) and warfarin (4-hydroxycoumarin) have been shown to prevent the recurrence of malignant melanoma. Their action is macrophage-dependent and the dosage is critical. In 1984 a multicentre, prospective, randomised, double-blind trial of coumarin, given as a daily 50-mg dose for 2 years after surgery in patients with high-risk melanoma, was started. the patients had lesions greater than 1.70 mm thick and TNM stage IB or stage II disease. To date there are 4 recurrences in the coumarin-treated group of 13 patients, and 10 recurrences in the placebo-treated group of 14 patients (P < 0.01). There were no toxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Irish Melanoma Group, Colman K. Byrnes Research Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Thornes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Breslin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaffney
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003374:Coumarins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003374:Coumarins; C030123:coumarin