Combination chemotherapy for disseminated malignant melanoma

BCNU, hydroxyurea, and imidazole carboxamide (DTIC) were administered to 89 patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. A response rate of 27% was observed. The addition of vincristine in another 89 patients did not significantly improve the response rate (30%). This includes patients who died during or after one course of therapy (less than 28 days). If the early deaths are not considered, the over-all response rate was 38%. (he best responses occurred in patients with skin, lung, and/or lymph node involvement. Liver and brain involvement heralded poor responses. This response rate appeared to be independent of age, sex or previous therapy. Moderate and severe toxicity, predominantly nausea and vomiting, was noted in most patients. The median survival for all evaluable patients was 17 months, and was independent of the regimen used.