Interferon in combination with vinblastine in advanced malignant melanoma. A phase I–II study

✍ Scribed by Stein Gundersen; A. Flokkmann

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 288 KB
• Volume: 64
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19891015)64:8<1617::aid-cncr2820640811>3.0.co;2-q

✦ Synopsis

Nineteen patients with advanced malignant melanoma were treated with a combination of recombinant alfa-interferon (a-IFN) and vinblastine (VBL). The a-IFN was administered subcutaneously daily at an initial dose of 3 X lo6 IU escalating to a maximal dose of 9 X lo6 U daily for the first 10 weeks followed by 3 X/week for 6 months. The VBL was given once every week at a dose of 0.025 mg/kg. Of the 19 patients 17 were evaluable for tumor response. Thirteen patients had received chemotherapy previously. Median performance status (World Health Organization) was 0, ranging from 0 to 2. One complete response and one partial response was observed. All patients experienced flu-like symptoms attributed to a-IFN. Leukopenia was observed in 12 patients and a planned dose escalation of VBL was undertaken for the patients only. It is concluded that combined a-IFN and VBL is only marginally effective in patients with advanced malignant melanoma who have had prior chemotherapy.