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Melanoma treatment details. Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy.

Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Padova, Italy.

Survival: monthsCountry:Italy
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Padova
Treatments:Chemotherapy, ImmunotherapyHospital:Istituto Oncologico Veneto
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Jun 2011

Description:

Patients:
This phase III study involved stage IV melanoma patients who were divided into two separate treatment groups. Group A consisted of 75 patients with a median age of 54.5 years and 61% male. Group B had 74 patients with a median age of 51.2 years and 61% male.

Treatment:
Patients in group A were treated with the chemotherapy agents cisplatin and dacarbazine, as well as the immunotherapy agent interleukin-2 (IL-2), which stimulates the immune system to fight cancer cells.
Patients in group B were treated with cisplatin, IL-2, and the chemotherapy agent temozolomide.

Toxicities:
The most severe treatment toxicity in group A was of grade 4 and included neutropenia (5% of patients) and thrombocytopenia (4%). Grade 3 fatigue and nausea/vomiting were also reported.

For group B, the most severe toxicity was of grade 4, including neutropenia (9% of patients), thrombocytopenia (5%), and fatigue (3%). Grade 3 fever and nausea/vomiting were also reported.

Results:
The reported median overall survival for groups A and B was 8.7 and 8.4 months, respectively.

Support:
The temozolomide study drug was provided by Schering-Plough Corp.

Correspondence: Dr. V Chiarion-Sileni; email: [email protected]

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