title: Melanoma and IFN alpha: potential adjuvant therapy.
abstract: Interferon alpha (IFNalpha) is the most used adjuvant treatment in clinical practice for melanoma (MEL) high-medium risk patients; however, the use of IFNalpha has yielded conflicting data on Overall Survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates. Starting from these considerations, we carried out an analysis on our MEL patients who received adjuvant IFNalpha therapy, in order to identify possible predictors for their outcome. A total of 140 patients were included in our analysis. Patients with Breslow thickness &#8804;2.00 mm presented a significantly longer mean DFS than patients with Breslow &#8805;2.01 mm (p = 0.01). Using non- parametric Spearmans Coefficient test we found association between DFS and Breslow thickness (p < 0.001) and between DFS and ulceration (p = 0.03). Performing Multiple Regression test, Breslow thickness (p < 0.001) remained the only statistically significant predictor. From the OS analysis we found that patients with lower Breslow values &#8804; 2.00 mm (p < 0.0001), and absence of ulceration (p <0.004) showed a significantly better long-term survival. From the current analysis we found that the use of low dose IFNalpha is justified only for cutaneous melanoma &#8804; 4.01 mm that was not ulcerated; patients with Breslow &#8805; 4.01 mm, in our opinion, should not carry out adjuvant treatment with low dose IFNalpha, because its side effects could be higher than the its benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bottoni
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clerico
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corsetti
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ambrifi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brachini
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia, Viale Europa, Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nisticò
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, NESMOS Department, II School of Medicine, Sapienza University Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via Grottarossa, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pranteda
authors.affiliation: Unit of Dermatology, Umberto I Polyclinic, La Sapienza University, Via del Policlinico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calvieri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha