Prognostic factors in advanced metastatic and recurrent melanoma treated with DTIC

Thirty-five patients with recurrent and 25 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma after previous radical locoregional surgery were treated with DTIC at the Institute of Oncology in Kraków between 1976 and 1981. Complete and partial remissions were observed in 19/60, i.e., in 31% of the patients. Our results show an advantage for patients with locoregional recurrence, soft-tissue and lung metastases, provided that the largest deposit is no larger than 5 cm in diameter. There is little chance of remission in patients with liver and bone metastases.