Combined chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic melanoma--is there a need for the double?
The therapeutic benefit of adding immunotherapeutic agents such as interferon (IFN)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-2 to established single-agent or combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of metastatic melanoma has not been proven. On the contrary, recent studies indicate a significantly higher incidence of severe toxic side effects in patients treated with combined biochemotherapy. This article summarizes recent trials using either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy plus the administration of IFN-alpha and/or IL-2 to evaluate the benefit of a combined biochemotherapy.
Schrader
A J
AJ
Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Experimental Oncology, National Research Centre for Biotechnology (GBF), Braunschweig, Germany. ajschrader@gmx.de
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins