The emerging role of cytokines in the treatment of advanced melanoma. For the EORTC Melanoma Cooperative Group.
Cytokine-based treatment regimens have been evaluated for advanced melanoma in a number of phase I and phase II trials within the last decade. Treatment with interleukin-2 (IL-2) as a single agent has resulted in response rates of approximately 15%, if a high dose of IL-2 is administered. Combination of interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) and high dose IL-2 yields response rates ranging from 10 to 41%. Response rates exceeding 50% have been reported with chemoimmunotherapy, if the treatment regimens included at least the three agents IL-2, IFNalpha and cisplatin. Recent randomized trials have evaluated the impact of these drugs on the survival of patients with advanced melanoma. The current 'state of the art' is discussed in this review.
Keilholz
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Department of Medicine III (Hematology, Oncology, and Transfusion Medicine), University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
Eggermont
A M
AM
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2