INTRODUCTION: Metastatic melanoma has an ominous prognosis. Bio-chemotherapy regimens can increase the response rate but with a high degree of toxicity due, mainly, to the use of high-dose intravenous interleukin-2. OBJECTIVES: To test the feasibility and activity profile of a bio-chemotherapy regimen of low-dose subcutaneous interleukin-2. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Administration scheme: dacarbazine at 200 mg/m2/d on days 1-4, cisplatin at 20 mg/m2/d intravenous on days 1-4, vinblastine at 1.5 mg/m2/d on days 1-4, IL-2 at 4.5 MUI/m2/d subcutaneous on days 5-8, IFN-alpha at 5 MU subcutaneous on days 5-9, 11, 13, 15 of every 21-day cycle. RESULTS: Objective response was obtained in 11 patients (39.3%; 95%CI: 21-59) including 4 with complete response (14.3%; 95%CI: 4-33). With an extended follow-up of 49 months and 60 months, respectively, 2 patients continue with complete response. The main toxicities were haematological: grade 3-4 neutropenia in 8.2% of cycles, thrombocytopenia in 1.2% and anaemia in 3.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The regimen is safe and has a good activity profile. The presence of long-term survivors, despite the use of lower doses and subcutaneous IL-2, is encouraging.
INTRODUCTION:Metastatic melanoma has an ominous prognosis. Bio-chemotherapy regimens can increase the response rate but with a high degree of toxicity due, mainly, to the use of high-dose intravenous interleukin-2. OBJECTIVES: To test the feasibility and activity profile of a bio-chemotherapy regimen of low-dose subcutaneous interleukin-2. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Administration scheme: dacarbazine at 200 mg/m2/d on days 1-4, cisplatin at 20 mg/m2/d intravenous on days 1-4, vinblastine at 1.5 mg/m2/d on days 1-4, IL-2 at 4.5 MUI/m2/d subcutaneous on days 5-8, IFN-alpha at 5 MU subcutaneous on days 5-9, 11, 13, 15 of every 21-day cycle. RESULTS: Objective response was obtained in 11 patients (39.3%; 95%CI: 21-59) including 4 with complete response (14.3%; 95%CI: 4-33). With an extended follow-up of 49 months and 60 months, respectively, 2 patients continue with complete response. The main toxicities were haematological: grade 3-4 neutropenia in 8.2% of cycles, thrombocytopenia in 1.2% and anaemia in 3.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The regimen is safe and has a good activity profile. The presence of long-term survivors, despite the use of lower doses and subcutaneous IL-2, is encouraging.
Authors: U Keilholz; C Conradt; S S Legha; D Khayat; C Scheibenbogen; N Thatcher; S H Goey; M Gore; T Dorval; B Hancock; C J Punt; R Dummer; M F Avril; E B Bröcker; A Benhammouda; A M Eggermont; M Pritsch Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 1998-09 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: M B Atkins; M T Lotze; J P Dutcher; R I Fisher; G Weiss; K Margolin; J Abrams; M Sznol; D Parkinson; M Hawkins; C Paradise; L Kunkel; S A Rosenberg Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: P B Chapman; L H Einhorn; M L Meyers; S Saxman; A N Destro; K S Panageas; C B Begg; S S Agarwala; L M Schuchter; M S Ernstoff; A N Houghton; J M Kirkwood Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: J Atzpodien; E Lopez Hänninen; H Kirchner; A Franzke; A Körfer; M Volkenandt; S Duensing; A Schomburg; S Chaitchik; H Poliwoda Journal: Eur J Cancer Date: 1995-06 Impact factor: 9.162
Authors: Bret Taback; Steven J O'Day; Peter D Boasberg; Sherry Shu; Patricia Fournier; Robert Elashoff; He-Jing Wang; Dave S B Hoon Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2004-01-21 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Omar Eton; Sewa S Legha; Agop Y Bedikian; J Jack Lee; Antonio C Buzaid; Cynthia Hodges; Sigrid E Ring; Nicholas E Papadopoulos; Carl Plager; Mary Jo East; Feng Zhan; Robert S Benjamin Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2002-04-15 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: S R Johnston; D O Constenla; J Moore; H Atkinson; R P A'Hern; G Dadian; P G Riches; M E Gore Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 1998-04 Impact factor: 7.640