title: [Combination of fotemustine-dacarbazine and interferon alpha in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma].
abstract: In the treatment of disseminated malignant melanoma (DMM), the results obtained with fotemustine associated or not with dacarbazine are promising and those obtained with interféron alpha are also interesting. Therefore, we have investigated the efficacy and the toxicity of a combined chemotherapy with fotemustine-dacarbazine and interferon alpha in DMM. We present in this work our results on 44 patients who entered into this opened study. 37 patients were evaluable. 29 (78.4 p. 100) had previously received one or more cytotoxic chemotherapy. The regimen consisted of an induction treatment with fotemustine (100 mg/m2) on days 1.8, and 60 dacarbazine (400 mg/m2) on days 1, and 60 and subcutaneous injections of interféron (9.10(6) UI) alpha three times weekly. Responding and stabilized patients were given maintenance treatment with a monthly infusion of fotemustine (100 mg/m2) and dacarbazine (400 mg/m2) and interferon alpha carried on at the same dose. The response rate was 10.8 p. 100 (3 PR + 1 CR). Responses have depended on metastatic sites (cerebral site 18,2 p. 100). The median duration of response was 28 weeks. Toxicity was mainly hematologic and was acceptable. These results are not as good as those reported before with fotemustine and dacarbazine. Even if reasons related to patients and protocol could be discussed, the association of interferon alpha, fotemustine and dacarbazine seems devoid of interest during induction treatment.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Dermatologique, CHU Nantes, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Célérier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dreno
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bureau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Litoux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D003606:Dacarbazine; C054368:fotemustine
vernacular_title: Association fotémustine-dacarbazine et interféron alpha dans le traitement des mélanomes malins métastasés.