title: Adjuvant chemotherapy with a nitrosourea-based protocol in advanced malignant melanoma.
abstract: 173 patients with regional lymphatic metastases (n = 139) or distant disease (n = 34) were prospectively randomised, following resection of all clinically detectable tumour, to observation (n = 88) or adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 85). The treatment group received 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) 80 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) every 4 weeks, and actinomycin-D 10 micrograms/kg, vincristine 1.0 mg/m2 i.v. every 2 weeks for 6 months. The disease-free survival curves between the two groups were significantly different (P = 0.03). The estimated 5-year disease-free survival rate for the observation group was 9% and for the treatment group 29%. However, the overall survival curves were not significantly different for the two groups. Nitrosoureas may have a weak effect as adjuvant treatment in malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology Department, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karakousis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blumenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D002330:Carmustine