title: Treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma with intravenous fotemustine.
abstract: The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the safety and activity of intravenous fotemustine in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. We report on a series of 25 consecutive patients diagnosed with metastatic uveal melanoma. Fotemustine was administered intravenously as a first-line treatment to all patients. Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (any grade) were observed in 60 and 52% of patients, respectively. Only two patients discontinued treatment because of toxicity (G3 thrombocytopenia), whereas all other patients were discontinued for progressive disease. Two partial responses were observed. Nine patients had stable disease (disease control rate=44%). The median survival duration was 13.9 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 60%. Intravenous fotemustine is well tolerated and could improve the outcome of metastatic uveal melanoma patients with or without liver involvement, although a randomized prospective trial is required to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST - Istituto Nazionale Per La Ricerca Sul Cancro, 16132 Genova, Italy. francesco.spagnolo85@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Picasso
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tornari
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Queirolo
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000098943:Uveal Melanoma
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C054368:fotemustine