title: Systemic treatments for advanced cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: The treatment of advanced cutaneous melanoma remains disappointing. Single-agent cytotoxic drugs usually produce response rates of less than 20%, though newer agents, particularly fotemustine and temozolomide, show some promise, especially in patients with brain metastases. Combination chemotherapy regimens yield response rates of 20% to 40%, but durable complete remissions are uncommon. Interferon-alfa and interleukin-2 alone produce response rates of 10% to 20%, 3% to 5% of which are durable. Vaccines and monoclonal antibodies have low level activity in advanced disease but may play a role in the adjuvant setting. The combinations of cisplatin-based regimens plus IFN-alfa and IL-2 have produced overall response rates of 50% to 60% and complete responses in 20% of patients, about half of which are durable. The toxicity of these regimens is severe, however, and their impact on survival remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Buzaid
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Legha
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D003606:Dacarbazine; C054368:fotemustine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077204:Temozolomide