title: Toxicity of combined treatment of adjuvant irradiation and interferon alpha2b in high-risk melanoma patients.
abstract: Surgically resected stage III melanoma patients commonly receive adjuvant therapy with interferon (IFN) alpha2b. For those patients with high-risk features of draining node recurrence, radiation therapy can also be considered as a treatment option. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy and radiation-related toxicity of this combined therapy. Eighteen patients receiving adjuvant IFNalpha2b therapy during radiation therapy, or within 1 month of its completion, were reviewed retrospectively and analysed for outcome. Radiation was delivered at 600 cGy dose per fraction, in 16 out of 18 patients, twice a week, and at 200 cGy dose per fraction in two patients five times a week. Total radiation dose and number of fractions were as follows: 30 Gy/5 fr (n=8), 36 Gy/6 fr (n=8) and 50 Gy/25 fr (n=2). The percentage of disease-free patients, with no local recurrence, at 3 years was 88%. In 10 patients, IFNalpha2b was administered concurrently with radiotherapy; in three, within 30 days before or after radiation; and in five, more than 30 days after radiation. All the patients experienced acute skin reactions, grade I on the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale. Late radiation-related toxicity was seen in one patient with grade III (RTOG) skin reaction and two with grade IV (RTOG) radiation-induced myelitis. Concurrent use of adjuvant radiotherapy and IFNalpha2b might enhance radiation-induced toxicity, and special care should be taken when the spinal cord is included in the radiation field.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Spain. cconill@clinic.ub.es
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Conill
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Jorcano
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Domingo-Domènech
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Marruecos
authors: Ramón
authors: R
authors: Vilella
authors: Josep
authors: J
authors: Malvehy
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Puig
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Sánchez
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Gallego
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Castel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins