Combination chemotherapy for disseminated malignant melanoma with DTIC, vincristine, and methyl-CCNU

Thirty patients with disseminated melanoma were treated with DTIC (250 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks), methyl-CCNU (175 mg/m2 orally every 6 weeks), and vincristine (1.4 mg/m2 weekly x 6 and then every 3 weeks). Seven patients died within 3 weeks of the start of chemotherapy. There was a 30% response rate (seven partial and two complete remissions) for all patients and a 39% response for evaluable patients. The median survival was 45 and 18 weeks respectively for responders versus non-responders and 22 weeks for all evaluable patients.