Recombinant interferon alpha-2a in combination with dacarbazine in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma: analysis of long-term responding patients

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 1993 Jul;37(1):61-6. doi: 10.1007/BF01516943.

Abstract

Thirty-four evaluable patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were entered into a phase-II study designed to assess the response rate and analyze the long-term therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon (rIFN) alpha-2a and dacarbazine. Patients received 14 days of daily subcutaneous r-IFN alpha-2a (3 x 10(6) IU/day), followed by 9 x 10(6) IU on alternate days, as long as objective response lasted, in combination with i.v. dacarbazine started on day 7 (400 mg/m2) and repeated every 21 days (dacarbazine doses were escalated to 800 mg/m2). In 11 patients, 6 complete (17.6%) and 5 partial (14.7%) responses were seen, with an overall response rate of 32.3% (95% confidence interval: 16%-48%). The median survival time of the responding patients was significantly better than that of patients with progressive disease (P = 0.01) and the median response time of the patients showing complete response was longer than that of the partially responding patients (14 and 7 months respectively, P = 0.06).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / mortality
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Dacarbazine / adverse effects
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / mortality
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / mortality
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / mortality
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Dacarbazine