European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
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Both chemotherapy and interleukin-2 and/or interferon-alpha produce objective responses in a proportion of advanced malignant melanoma patients. While duration of response to chemotherapy is short, i.e. usually below 4 months, immunotherapy has resulted in a small number of long-lasting remissions in patients with metastatic melanoma. In two consecutive phase II trials in a total of 67 patients, we assessed the potential synergism between both modalities, i.e. chemo- and immunotherapy. ⋯ The sequential combination of chemotherapy and rIL-2 plus rIFN-alpha had at least additive therapeutic activity against metastatic malignant melanoma. The schedules produced long-lasting remissions and were tolerated well overall. These trials substantiate a potential role for low to intermediate dose immunotherapy in maintaining and consolidating therapeutic effects of chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma.
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To investigate influences of a recall due to inconclusive findings on screening mammography, 45 women were examined with psychological ('mood' and 'coping'), endocrine and immunological tests immediately after complete mammography (first interview), 2-3 days after the initial screening mammography, and 3 weeks after the women had been informed of normal findings (second interview). The mood score in the first interview was significantly lower than in the second. No differences were found in the endocrine and immunological tests. The recall for complete mammography provoked a significant short-term emotional reaction not reflected in changes in the endocrine and immune functions.