Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Treatment of metastatic melanoma with combined chemotherapy containing cisplatin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (CVD) and biotherapy using interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha.
Metastatic melanoma is commonly treated with chemotherapy and/or biological agents used separately. In this study we have investigated the efficacy of combined chemotherapy using cisplatin, vinblastine, DTIC (CVD) and biological therapy using interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in patients with metastatic melanoma. ⋯ The sequential combination of CVD with IL-2 + IFN-alpha appears to have produced an increase in the number of durable responses in patients with metastatic melanoma. The toxicity of this program, although severe, was manageable. The biochemotherapy regimen produced an apparent increase in the median survival compared to that observed with the CVD regimen. However, a prospective comparison of these two regimens will be required to confirm these observations.
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Clinical Trial
Rationale for the dosage and schedule of CPT-11 (irinotecan) selected for phase II studies, as determined by European phase I studies.
CPT-11 (irinotecan), a camptothecin-derived anticancer agent with DNA topoisomerase 1 inhibitory activity, has demonstrated a broad spectrum of in vitro and in vivo activity in solid tumour models including multidrug-resistant tumours. This review details the rationale for the dosage schedule of CPT-11 selected for phase II studies, based on the results of 3 European phase I dose-escalating trials in patients with solid tumours. ⋯ CPT-11 350 mg/m2 administered as an intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks was chosen for further evaluation in early phase II studies, since this dosage regimen allowed the highest dose intensity with the least toxicity and was convenient for outpatient use. The place of higher doses (with intensive antidiarrhoeal support) and other administration schedules (e.g., protracted infusion) warrant further investigation.