Recombinant interleukin-2 and other types of treatment of advanced malignant melanoma.

Interleukin-2 has demonstrated significant and consistent activity against melanoma even in patients who have been treated previously with other modalities. This paper reviews local treatment, systemic treatment with single-agent, combination, and high-dose chemotherapy, and new agents; biologic modifier therapy, including tumor vaccines and active specific immunization, and interferons; and recombinant interleukin-2, which has activity when used alone, with lymphokine-activated killer cells, chemotherapy, or biologic modifiers. Tumor response, predictors of response, and survival are also discussed.