Medical treatment of metastatic melanoma

Surg Clin North Am. 1996 Dec;76(6):1343-54. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6109(05)70519-3.

Abstract

The role of combination chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma is still a matter of controversy because of the lack of prospective trials directly demonstrating increased response rates and improved survival compared with DTIC alone. Nevertheless, several three-drug regimens have reported response rates between 30% and 50% in single-institution studies. The duration of response medians of these regimens ranges between 6 and 9 months. However, the survival medians of 6 to 11 months are not substantially better than those of DTIC alone. However, survival at 1 and 2 years following initiation of therapy may more clearly demonstrate an impact of therapies for metastatic melanoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytokines / therapeutic use
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Dacarbazine