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.
Doveil
G C
GC
I. Clinica Dermatologica dell'Università di Torino, Italia.
Fierro
M T
MT
Novelli
M
M
Appino
A
A
Bertero
M
M
Quaglino
P
P
Bernengo
M G
MG
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