Brain metastases following interleukin-2 plus interferon-alpha-2a therapy: a follow-up study in 94 stage IV melanoma patients.
This study analyses the frequency and therapy of brain metastases in 94 stage IV melanoma patients after treatment with high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) within three subsequent trials between 1990 and 1995. Central nervous system (CNS) metastases occurred in 28 patients (30%) during the potential follow-up period of 6 years. Time to occurrence of brain metastases varied between 1 and 53 months, with a median of 10 months. Of 28 patients, 19 had < 5 metastases, which were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SR) in 9 patients. In 2 patients, SR was followed by resection. 9 patients had multiple metastases, of which 4 received whole brain irradiation (WBI). Median survival after the detection of CNS metastases was 6 months (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1-11 months). SR plus resection was associated with a prolonged survival of 34 and 35 months in 2 patients, 1 patient survived for 41 months after WBI, demonstrating the efficacy of these therapeutic strategies.
Freie Universität Berlin, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin-Franklin, Medizinische Klinik III (Hämatologie, Onkologie and Transfusionsmedizin), Hindenburgdamm 30, D-12200 Berlin, Germany. schmittel@ukbf.fu-berlin.de
A
A
Schmittel
T
T
Proebstle
R
R
Engenhart-Cabillic
C
C
Scheibenbogen
A M
AM
Geueke
E
E
Thiel
U
U
Keilholz
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins