DTIC therapy in metastatic malignant melanoma: a simplified dose schedule

Ninety-seven patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with DTIC, 850 mg/m2 given in single doses at 3--6 week intervals, either alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m2) and vincristine (2 mg/m2) (DCV). Eighteen patients (19%) had objective disease regression, with a median response duration of 151 days. There was no difference in response rate, response duration, or survival between the group treated with DTIC alone and the group treated with DCV but there was greater gastrointestinal and hematopoietic toxicity in the DCV group. Tumor regression with this single-dose DTIC regimen is similar to that obtained with 5-day courses of DTIC and toxicity is not increased.