title: Malignant melanoma therapy by chemotherapy and autoimmunity induced by cytokine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combining dacarbazine (DTIC) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) with interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with advanced malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven (27) patients with advanced malignant melanoma received dacarbazine (500 mg/m(2)/days 1-2, intravenously), GM-CSF (175 ug/m(2)/days 3-6, subcutaneously), and interleukin-2 (400 MIU/m(2)/days 7-10, subcutaneously). Each treatment cycle required 21 days to completion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time to progression was 7-11 months. The total effective rate was 44.4%, and the combination of chemotherapy, GM-CSF, and IL-2 had low toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of DTIC with GM-CSF and IL-2 is feasible and possibly efficacious for clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Third College Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: QingYuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: XinMei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: JingXuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: WenZhou
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D003606:Dacarbazine; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor