title: Multicentre, open, noncomparative Phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of fotemustine, cisplatin, alpha-interferon and interleukin-2 in advanced melanoma patients.
abstract: The efficacy and tolerability of fotemustine, cisplatin, alpha-interferon and interleukin-2 biochemotherapy were evaluated in advanced melanoma patients. The schedule consisted of fotemustine (100 mg/m) and cisplatin (75 mg/m) intravenous on day 1, followed by subcutaneous interleukin-2 at a dose of 4.5 MIU on days 3-5 and 8-12 and alpha-interferon at a dose of 3 MU three times/week, every 3 weeks for six cycles. Sixty patients were evaluated for tumour response, 12 of whom had brain metastases (BM). One patient (1.7%) with BM achieved a complete response and partial responses were observed in 10 patients (16.7%), including one BM patient. Overall response rate was 18.4 and 16.6% in BM patients (median response duration 8.2 months). Disease control, defined as overall response and stable disease, was 58.4% in all patients and 75% in patients with BM. Median time to progression was 3.2 months (4.2 months in BM patients). Median overall survival was 8.9 months (7.6 months in BM patients). Toxic events were mild to moderate. This combination was well tolerated and showed acceptable clinical activity, especially in BM patients.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Meldola, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
authors.forename: Giammaria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michiara
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freschi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aitini
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballardini
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bichisao
authors.forename: Ruggero
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C054368:fotemustine; D002945:Cisplatin