Combination chemotherapy with vinblastine, BCNU and cisplatin in advanced malignant melanoma

A combination chemotherapy including vinblastine (6 mg/m2 i.v. days 1-2), BCNU (100 mg/m2 i.v. day 3), and cisplatin (50 mg/m2 i.v. day 5) was given as salvage treatment in 46 consecutive, previously treated patients affected by metastatic malignant melanoma. Courses were planned every 4 weeks provided that a complete bone marrow recovery occurred, otherwise they were delayed for 1-2 additional weeks. Objective responses (3 CRs and 10 PRs) were observed in 13/46 (28%) patients; 12 cases had stable disease and 21 patients progressive disease during treatment. Median duration of response was 13 months (range, 5-18), and median survival was 11 months (range, 3-20) for all patients. Nausea and vomiting were the most distressing side effects, whereas a grade I leukopenia caused a delayed treatment in 90% of patients. In conclusion, the combination chemotherapy was moderately toxic and did not seem to give substantially better results than obtained with other reported regimens.