[Chemotherapy of malignant melanoma (author's transl)]

Chemotherapy of malignant melanoma is indicated in advanced disease when local treatment is no longer possible. The results of single-agent chemotherapy, including alkylating agents, antimetabolites and several antibiotics as well as vinca alkaloids and recently the nitrosoureas, are critically reviewed. The overall response rates do not reach levels about 15 percent. The imidazole carboxamide compound (DTIC) has been most extensively studied, And increases the response rate to about 25 percent. The influence of pretreatment and the preponderance of certain localizations, and also the survival rates of responders, partial responders and nonresponders are discussed. Combination chemotherapy seems not to be superior to single-agent therapy. Various factors, including biochemical, pharmacological, cytokinetic and immunologic parameters that differentiate responders from nonresponders, still require examination.