title: [Malignant melanoma].
abstract: There have been many prospective randomized clinical trials of IFNalpha as post-surgical adjuvant therapy for high-risk melanoma patients. High dose IFNalpha therapy(HDI) has been reported to be effective in disease-free survival (DFS). However, the usefulness of HDI therapy is still controversial due to its grave toxicity. Low dose IFNalpha therapy (LDI) has no consistent effects on DFS. Most trials showed little activity in patients with metastatic melanoma. In Japan, IFNbeta, in combination with chemotherapy, has been used as post-surgical adjuvant therapy, and has been considered to improve the prognosis of stage III melanoma patients. In addition, we have recently performed a phase I/IIa trial of IFNbeta gene therapy for advanced melanoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trial and Research Center, Shinshu University Hospital.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saida
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta