title: A retrospective study of biochemotherapy for metastatic melanoma: the importance of dose intensity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The utility of biochemotherapy for metastatic melanoma remains controversial. Dose intensity has been recognized as an important determinant of response and survival in the chemotherapy of several malignancies but has not been studied in biochemotherapy. In this retrospective study, we described the relationship between achieved dose intensity and the response rate of inpatient decrescendo biochemotherapy at our center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study of 38 consecutive patients with metastatic melanoma was undertaken. The planned doses were dacarbazine 800 mg/m(2) on day 1 or temozolomide 150 mg/m(2) on days 1-4, cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) on days 1-4, vinblastine 1.5 mg/m(2) on days 1-4, interferon-alpha-2b (Schering) 5 million IU (MIU)/m(2) on days 1-5, and interleukin-2 36 MIU on day 1, 18 MIU on day 2, and 9 MIU on days 3 and 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 38 patients that received a total of 204 cycles of therapy, 8 (21%) complete responses and 14 (37%) partial responses were observed for an objective response rate of 58%. Median survival was 19.6 months. Achieved dose intensity was high with patients receiving 98.7% interleukin- 2, 87.1% interferon, 90.7% dacarbazine (DTIC), 94% temozolomide, 87.2% cisplatin, and 89.7% vinblastine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six cycles of inpatient decrescendo biochemotherapy can be given with high-dose intensity and acceptable toxicity. High response rates with biochemotherapy for melanoma may correlate with dose intensity, dose density, and the number of cycles given on time.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Oncology Associates, California Pacific Medical Center, 2100 Webster Street #326, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. minord@sutterhealth.org
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Minor
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Madland
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashani-Sabet
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077204:Temozolomide; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077204:Temozolomide