Subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 plus chemotherapy with cisplatin and dacarbazine in metastatic melanoma

Eur J Cancer. 1996 Apr;32A(4):730-3. doi: 10.1016/0959-8049(95)00662-1.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to verify the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous low doses of interleukin-2 with cisplatin and dacarbazine for malignant melanoma. 24 patients were included. The following schedule was used: cisplatin (CDDP) 100 mg/m2 day 1; darcarbazine (DTIC) 375 mg/m2 days 1-5; recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) 4.5 million IU x 2/day days 13-17 and 20-24. The therapy was recycled every 28 days. 10 patients obtained clinical remission (42%), with 2 complete responses (8%) persisting for 12 and 15+ months, and 8 partial responses (35.5%) with a median duration of 5 months. Median survival of all 24 patients was 8 months, 13 months for responders and 6 months for non-responders. Responses were seen predominantly in lymph nodes (48%) and skin-soft tissue (38%), but were also seen in the liver (29%) and lung (14%). Treatment was relatively well tolerated and toxicity was mainly related to chemotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Cisplatin / adverse effects
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Dacarbazine / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interleukin-2 / administration & dosage
  • Interleukin-2 / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Remission Induction
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Dacarbazine
  • Cisplatin