title: Durable complete responses in metastatic melanoma treated with interleukin-2 in combination with interferon alpha and chemotherapy.
abstract: Biochemotherapy, which uses recombinant interferon alpha (rIFN-alpha) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in combination with chemotherapy is a promising therapy for metastatic malignant melanoma. Various biochemotherapy regimens have produced overall objective response rates of > 50% and durable complete remission (CR) in approximately 10%-of treated patients. One such biochemotherapy regimen, consisting of sequential administration of cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (CVD regimen) followed by rIFN-alpha and rIL-2, has produced a response rate of 60% and a CR rate of 20% in the most recent cohort of 62 patients treated at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The duration of partial responses with this and similar regimens typically averages 6 to 9 months; however, more than half of the CRs achieved with this regimen have been durable for 3+ to 5+ years. This has raised the possibility of long-term survival in approximately 10% of patients with metastatic melanoma. If confirmed, this will represent a significant advance in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Melanoma/Sarcoma, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Legha
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014750:Vincristine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide