Adjuvant therapy for patients with high-risk malignant melanoma.
The role of adjuvant therapy in the treatment of patients with high-risk malignant melanoma remains an area of intense investigation. The initial enthusiasm for high-dose interferon has been tempered by the results of more recent studies that allow for conflicting interpretations. Vaccine therapy trials have failed to clearly demonstrate a survival benefit, although several trials are currently ongoing. Recent studies of the role of chemotherapy suggest there may be combinations that have a survival benefit which deserve further study. This article will address patient selection and staging workup, and review options for treatment.
McClay
Edward F
EF
San Diego Cancer Research Institute, and San Diego Melanoma Research Program, Vista, CA, USA.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D007372:Interferons