Systemic therapy of advanced metastatic malignant melanoma with a combination of fibroblast interferon-beta and recombinant interferon-gamma

Eighteen patients with advanced metastatic malignant melanoma (stage IVUICC 1987) were entered into a prospective trial with a combination of systemic fibroblast interferon-beta and recombinant interferon-gamma. Treatment was performed over a 6-week period with 3 x 5 x 10(6) U i.v. interferon-beta and 5 X 100 micrograms s.c. interferon-gamma every week. Under this therapy 16 patients showed a progressive disease, and 2 patients had a stable disease. The median time of survival was 7.5 months. Successive immunological examinations showed no significant immunomodulating effect after the 6 weeks of interferon treatment. We conclude that the combination of interferon-beta and -gamma is insufficient in the treatment of advanced metastatic malignant melanoma when administered by this dose, route and schedule.