SEQUENTIAL CHEMOIMMUNOTHERAPY WITH CISPLATIN, INTERLEUKIN-2, AND INTERFERON ALFA-2A FOR METASTATIC MELANOMA

Purpose: To evaluate the activity and the toxicity of the combination of cisplatin (CDDP)/recombinant interleukin-2 (rlL-2) and Interferon alfa-2a (IFNα) in disseminated malignant melanoma (DMM). Patients and Methods: Between December 1990 and March 1992, 39 patients with biopsy-proven metastatic malignant melanoma (MM), bidimensionally measurable lesions and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status a 2 entered this protocol. Seventy-nine percent had received previous chemotherapy including platinum complex (15%) and alpha interferon (44%). They received CDDP (100 mg/m2 on day 0) followed by IL-2 18.106 IU/m2/d continuous intravenous (IV) infusion from day 3 to day 6 and from day 17 to day 21. The cycle was repeated on day 28. Subcutaneous IFNα 9.106 IU three times weekly was administered throughout the treatment period. From day 66 or 94, patients were administered a maintenance cycle with CDDP 100 mg/m2, subcutaneous IL-2 5.106 IU/m2/ d from day 15 to day 19 and from day 22 to day 26 and IFNα 9.102 IU three times weekly repeated every 5 weeks (maximum four cycles). Results: Among 39 assessable patients, five patients achieved complete responses (CRs). Sixteen patients had partial responses (PRs). The overall objective response rate was 53.8%. The number of metastatic sites was the only response-predictive factor. Toxicity was manageable in a routine patient setting and there was no life-threatening toxicity. Conclusion: These results seem to indicate a possible synergy between CDDP/rIL-2 and IFNα in MM.