Choices in adjuvant therapy of melanoma.
BACKGROUND
High-dose interferon (IFN) is the approved agent for adjuvant treatment of melanoma in the United States. This approval is for high-risk, predominantly stage III patients with cutaneous primaries. There are still decisions to be made in the care of these patients. Also, there are questions about whether the IFN data can be extrapolated to patients with other stages of melanoma and whether adjuvant treatment should be offered to these individuals. Clearly there is room for improvement in this area.


METHODS
The literature on this topic and ongoing national trials in the United States were reviewed.


RESULTS
The data are insufficient to recommend other agents in the adjuvant treatment of melanoma outside a clinical trial. Extrapolation of the IFN data to patient populations other than those studied is problematic at best. National trials are available for most patient populations.


CONCLUSIONS
The adjuvant treatment of choice for melanoma patients is participation in a clinical trial.
Lawson
David H
DH
Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. David.Lawson@emoryhealthcare.org
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha