Adjuvant therapy of stage IIIb melanoma with interferon alfa-2b: clinical and immunological relevance.
BACKGROUND
The poor prognosis of stage IIIb melanoma (5-year survival: 36%) shows the need for effective adjuvant therapy to prolong disease-free survival.


OBJECTIVE
The feasibility and efficacy of interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha) therapy in stage IIIb melanoma patients was investigated.


METHODS
alpha-IFN was given at a dose of 3 MU i.m. three times a week to 50 patients. Clinical and immunological controls were carried out.


RESULTS
The median follow-up was 43 months (range 5-84). Median survival was 43 months and median disease-free survival 39 months. Overall 5-year survival (62%) was higher than that reported in the literature to date. A significant increase of circulating CD56+ and DR+ lymphocytes after therapy was more evident in disease-free patients than in those with progressing disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Adjuvant IFN-alpha therapy in stage IIIb melanoma patients is well tolerated and seems to increase survival. However, multicenter randomized trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
I. Clinica Dermatologica dell'Università di Torino, Italia.
G C
GC
Doveil
M T
MT
Fierro
M
M
Novelli
A
A
Appino
M
M
Bertero
P
P
Quaglino
M G
MG
Bernengo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins