Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine
Published on: February 24, 2023
The feasibility of adjuvant interferon alpha-2b in children with high-risk melanoma
Fariba Navid1, Wayne L Furman, Martin Fleming
1Department of Hematology/Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. fariba.navid@stjude.org
Background:
It has been shown that induction high-dose interferon alpha-2b (IFN-alpha-2b) followed by maintenance therapy improves recurrence-free survival in adults with high-risk, resected melanoma. In this study, the feasibility and toxicity of this regimen were evaluated in newly diagnosed pediatric patients with Stage III melanoma involving regional lymph nodes.
Methods:
Fifteen patients age
Results:
All patients completed induction therapy, and nine patients completed maintenance therapy. Three patients currently are receiving maintenance, 2 patients developed recurrent disease on maintenance therapy, and 1 patient stopped maintenance therapy 5 weeks early. During induction therapy, Grade 3-4 toxicities included 14 episodes of neutropenia in 11 patients, 3 episodes of leukopenia in 2 patients, and 6 episodes of liver transaminase elevations in 5 patients. Dose modifications were required in four patients. During maintenance therapy, Grade 3-4 toxicities included 23 episodes of neutropenia in 10 patients and 2 episodes of liver transaminase elevations in 2 patients. Three patients required dose modifications. All toxicities were reversible with interruption or dose modification of therapy, and no patients were taken off study due to toxicity.
Conclusions:
High dose IFN-alpha-2b for 4 weeks followed by a lower dose maintenance phase for 48 weeks was feasible in children with Stage III melanoma and was associated with tolerable toxicity.
