Recombinant interferon alpha-2a in combination with dacarbazine in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma: analysis of long-term responding patients.
Thirty-four evaluable patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were entered into a phase-II study designed to assess the response rate and analyze the long-term therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon (rIFN) alpha-2a and dacarbazine. Patients received 14 days of daily subcutaneous r-IFN alpha-2a (3 x 10(6) IU/day), followed by 9 x 10(6) IU on alternate days, as long as objective response lasted, in combination with i.v. dacarbazine started on day 7 (400 mg/m2) and repeated every 21 days (dacarbazine doses were escalated to 800 mg/m2). In 11 patients, 6 complete (17.6%) and 5 partial (14.7%) responses were seen, with an overall response rate of 32.3% (95% confidence interval: 16%-48%). The median survival time of the responding patients was significantly better than that of patients with progressive disease (P = 0.01) and the median response time of the patients showing complete response was longer than that of the partially responding patients (14 and 7 months respectively, P = 0.06).
Department of Oncology, Tel-Aviv-Elias Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003606:Dacarbazine