title: Chemotherapy and bio-chemotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma: combination therapy with a nitrosourea.
abstract: The treatment of advanced melanoma is still disappointing. In a multicenter randomized clinical trial to compare a chemotherapy (CT) with or without low doses of IL-2 and IFN (Bio-CT), the participating centers chose whether or not to add a nitrosourea, carmustine (BCNU) to the therapy. The aim of the present paper is to report the clinical results of the patients (pts) treated in both arms with BCNU. One hundred and seventy-six pts with advanced melanoma were enrolled in the study from 27 centers and a total of 18 pts also received BCNU in 3 centers. No further changes to the protocol criteria were allowed. One patient refused the treatment. No complete responses were observed. Irrespectively of the treatment arm, 9/17 pts showed a partial response to therapy (53%) (5/9 in the CT and 4/8 in the BioCT arm). The most important adverse events observed were hematological: 12 pts presented grade 3 (6 pts) or grade 4 (6 pts) leukocytopenia and 9 pts had grade 4 thrombocytopenia, all of which resolved spontaneously. The addition of a nitrosourea to CT or Bio-CT appears to improve response rates compared to the same regimens without nitrosourea. Patient tolerability is acceptable. Further studies using this combination are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, Ospedale Pierantoni, Forli, Italy. r.ridolfi@ausl.fo.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tanganelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scelzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manente
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmeri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravaioli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiammenghi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romanini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D002330:Carmustine