Overall and progression-free survival in metastatic melanoma: analysis of a single-institution database.
BACKGROUND
Many new agents are currently in trial in melanoma. It remains unclear, however, what the benefit of a given therapy may be since information on progression-free and overall survival of untreated patients is limited. Since few trials in melanoma have had a non-treated cohort, it remains unclear what survival can be expected in patients who are not treated with chemotherapy.


METHODS
To help develop parameters for future trials, we analyzed treatment history and survival in 212 patients with metastatic melanoma seen at our institution between January 1998 and September 2003. A retrospective analysis was done using a database created for melanoma patients at our center. Patient survival information was determined from this database, tumor registry, Social Security index, and direct patient calls. Patient staging information was determined according to the 2001 guidelines. Non-chemotherapy-treated patients with M1c disease were used as "controls."


RESULTS
The median survival of stage M1c melanoma was 6.0 months. Survival was longer for stage M1a and M1b and shorter in older patients. No significant differences were found in survival based on gender. Among chemotherapy-treated patients, those with progressive disease on treatment or with increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) fared worse than those with a clinical response or normal LDH, respectively. Patients treated with either biochemotherapy or temozolomide and thalidomide survived longer than those who received no chemotherapy treatment. Dacarbazine (DTIC) treatment did not prolong survival.


CONCLUSIONS
In this retrospective review of patients treated at a single institution, those treated with multiagent chemotherapy but not with single-agent DTIC appeared to have had a survival benefit.
Khan
M Aleem
MA
Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
Andrews
Stephanie
S
Ismail-Khan
Roohi
R
Munster
Pamela N
PN
Brem
Steven
S
King
Jeff
J
Reintgen
Douglas S
DS
Sondak
Vernon K
VK
Daud
Adil I
AI
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014747:Vinblastine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002945:Cisplatin