title: Update on adjuvant interferon therapy for high-risk melanoma.
abstract: Melanoma is almost 100% curable when diagnosed early, but when metastatic to distant organs, it is associated with a poor survival. The interferons have shown the mostpromise in the treatment of melanoma and interferon-alpha has been the most extensively studied. In recent trials, interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) administered at maximally tolerated doses for 1 year produced improvements in both relapse-free and overall survival. The importance and impact of the IV induction component of high-dose interferon regimens is currently being evaluated in an Intergroup randomized trial. A trial of the GMK vaccine vs high-dose interferon in patients with high-risk melanoma closed early when an interim analysis detected a markedly inferior response in the GMK arm compared to the high-dose interferon arm. The use of surgical staging will help to better define prognostic groups and support ongoing efforts for more effective adjuvant therapy.
authors.forename: Sanjiv S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Agarwala
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins