Malignant Melanoma Therapy by Chemotherapy and Autoimmunity Induced by Cytokine

Abstract

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combining dacarbazine (DTIC) and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) with interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with advanced malignant melanoma.

Methods:

Twenty-seven (27) patients with advanced malignant melanoma received dacarbazine (500 mg/m²/days 1–2, intravenously), GM-CSF (175 ug/m²/days 3–6, subcutaneously), and interleukin-2 (400 MIU/m²/days 7–10, subcutaneously). Each treatment cycle required 21 days to completion.

Results:

Time to progression was 7–11 months. The total effective rate was 44.4%, and the combination of chemotherapy, GM-CSF, and IL-2 had low toxicity.

Conclusions:

The combination of DTIC with GM-CSF and IL-2 is feasible and possibly efficacious for clinical use.