Adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy after regional lymphadenectomy for malignant melanoma

Thirty patients with malignant melanoma metastatic to regional lymph nodes who underwent either a full or partial node dissection were treated with adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). In this pilot study, 11 patients were given intravenous (i.v.) DTIC plus intradermal (i.d.) BCG (D/BCG), 19 patients received i.v. DTIC, BCNU, and hydroxyurea plus oral BCG (DBH/BCG). Their overall survival (OS) and disease-free interval (DFI) following node dissection and CIT were compared with 33 historical control (HC) patients from the preceding 4 years, matched for the known prognostic factors in melanoma. The D/BCG group received a median of five courses, the DBG/BCG group six courses. Minimum follow-up of all patients is in excess of 7 years. No significant differences were observed in either DFI or OS from diagnosis between the two treatment groups or between CIT patients and HC patients. A highly significant difference was observed in DFI and OS in favor of the partial node dissection (PND) group when compared with full node dissection (FND) group. No other known variables in the PND group accounting for their improved survival are noted. Five patients in DBH/BCG and three in D/BCG group are still alive 84-114 months after completing therapy.