Sequential chemo-immunotherapy treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma

Twelve patients with recurring metastatic inoperable malignant melanoma (performance status ECOG 0-1), received the following chemotherapy: tamoxifen p.o., carmustine i.v., dacarbazine i.v., and cisplatin i.v., followed by immunotherapy: interleukin-2 s.c. and interferon-alpha s.c. The treatment cycle was repeated every 6 weeks. Total response rate was 66.6%, with 25% (3 patients) achieving complete cure that has persisted for a period of 17.75 months (mean). In addition, different responses to treatment were observed between the local recurrence lesions and the metastatic lesions. Medium to severe side effects were observed, all but one of them being reversible (neurotoxicity), such as fever, anemia, leukopenia: nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and dyspnea.