title: Update on PEG-interferon α-2b as adjuvant therapy in melanoma.
abstract: Based on the results of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 18991 trial, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PEG-interferon α-2b (PEG-IFN) (Sylatron) as adjuvant therapy for high-risk melanoma. The EORTC 18991 trial was an open-label study of resectable stage III melanoma with 1,256 patients who were randomized to observation-alone or to treatment with PEG-IFN for up to 5 years. The median recurrence-free survival of the treatment groups was significantly longer, while overall survival, a secondary endpoint, was not significantly different between the two groups. This review, after a short summary of interferon α-2b trials, critically analyzes the EORTC18991 trial, as well as the subgroup results and future perspectives for this stage of disease.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medical Oncology and Innovative Therapy, G Pascale Institute of National Tumor Foundation, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Trolio
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simeone
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: Antonio Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caracò
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mozzillo
authors.forename: Paolo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ascierto
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b