Cutaneous melanoma: interferon alpha adjuvant therapy for patients at high risk for recurrent disease

Systemic adjuvant therapy in melanoma patients is the systemic treatment that is administered with the goal of eradicating micrometastatic deposits in patients who are clinically free of disease after surgical removal of the primary melanoma, but with a high risk of systemic recurrence. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is one of the most frequently used adjuvant therapies. Several randomized trials evaluated the efficacy of IFN-alpha in melanoma patients. However, results from conducted trials are controversial. Twelve randomized IFN-alpha trials are discussed in detail. All trials, including meta-analysis, failed to demonstrate a clear impact of IFN-alpha therapy on overall survival in melanoma patients. Based on currently available evidence, IFN-alpha therapy in the adjuvant setting should not be considered standard of care for patients who have melanoma. Results from ongoing studies are awaited. Further research for this therapy is required.