title: Prognostic factors for response and survival in patients with metastatic melanoma receiving immunotherapy.
abstract: Sixty-five patients with advanced melanoma treated in phase II trials with interferon-alpha and high dose interleukin-2 were analysed for pretreatment prognostic parameters. Three levels of response were used: objective remission [three complete response (CR)/14 partial response (PR)], stable disease and progression. Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), impaired performance status and high tumor load were associated with poor response. Multivariate analysis considering two levels of response [CR/PR vs stable disease (SD)/progressive disease (PD)] did not reveal any model with more than one significant factor. Considering survival, LDH was also a strong factor. Additional prognostic factors here were performance status, metastatic sites, alkaline phosphatase and tumor load. A Cox regression analysis revealed LDH, performance status and metastatic sites as independent factors. The prognostic values of these parameters will have to be confirmed in a larger patient cohort. Using the landmark method, it was estimated whether the response obtained after two cycles of treatment predicted survival. Patients with PD at this time had a median further survival of 6 months, SD of 27 months, and PR/CR of more than 31 months. This observation may help making decisions at this time.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Abteilung V, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keilholz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheibenbogen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pritsch
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Geuke
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2