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Treating Patients With Melanoma With Interferon-Reply

Treating Patients With Melanoma With Interferon-Reply Abstract We are writing to respond to comments by Cook and Zitelli concerning interferon therapy for patients with melanoma. While they mainly express their personal views, a few points concerning data generated in the Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG) trial E1684,1 which examined the effects of adjuvant therapy with interferon alfa-2b in patients with high-risk melanoma, should be clarified. First, the dose of interferon alfa-2b selected for ECOG trial E1684 (20 mIU/m2 once daily intravenously 5 days per week for 4 weeks, then 10 mIU/m2 subcutaneously 3 times per week for 48 weeks) was intended to be near the maximum tolerable dose. The rationale for selecting this dosage was based on the knowledge that interferon alfa-2b has direct antiproliferative and immunomodulatory actions on melanoma and that these effects would potentially be maximized by use of the highest tolerable dose. Additional rationale came from clinical trials that showed that high doses of interferon References 1. Kirkwood JM, Strawderman MH, Ernstoff MS, Smith TJ, Borden EC, Blum RH. Interferon alfa-2b adjuvant therapy of high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma: the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial EST 1684 . J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:7-17. 2. Hermanek P, Sobin LH, eds. TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours . 4th ed. Geneva, Switzerland: International Union Against Cancer (U1CC); 1987. 3. Balch CM, Buzaid AC. Finally, a successful adjuvant therapy for high-risk melanoma . J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:1-3. 4. Cole BF, Gelber RD, Kirkwood JM, Goldhirsch A, Barylak E, Borden E. Quality-of-life adjusted survival analysis of interferon alfa-2b adjuvant treatment of high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study . J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:2666-2673. 5. Cascinelli N. Evaluation of efficacy of adjuvant interferon alfa-2a in melanoma patients with regional node metastases . Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1995; 14:410. Abstract. 6. Creagan ET, Dalton RJ, Ahmann DL, et al. Randomized, surgical adjuvant clinical trial of recombinant interferon alfa-2a in selected patients with malignant melanoma . J Clin Oncol. 1995;13:2776-2783. 7. Kattan MW, Inoue Y, Giles FJ, et al. Cost-effectiveness of interferon-alpha and conventional chemotherapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia . Ann Intern Med. 1996;125:541-548.Crossref 8. Wong JB, Koff RS, Tinè F, Pauker SG. Cost-effectiveness of interferon-alpha 2b treatment for hepatitis B antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B . Ann Intern Med. 1995;122:664-675.Crossref 9. Bennett WG, Inoue Y, Beck JR, Pauker SG, Davis GL. Justification of a single 6-month course of interferon (IFN) for histologically mild chronic hepatitis C . Hepatology . 1995;22:290. Abstract. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

Treating Patients With Melanoma With Interferon-Reply

Kirkwood, John; Greenway, Hubert
Archives of Dermatology , Volume 133 (3) – Mar 1, 1997
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References (10)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archderm.1997.03890390131023
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract We are writing to respond to comments by Cook and Zitelli concerning interferon therapy for patients with melanoma. While they mainly express their personal views, a few points concerning data generated in the Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG) trial E1684,1 which examined the effects of adjuvant therapy with interferon alfa-2b in patients with high-risk melanoma, should be clarified. First, the dose of interferon alfa-2b selected for ECOG trial E1684 (20 mIU/m2 once daily intravenously 5 days per week for 4 weeks, then 10 mIU/m2 subcutaneously 3 times per week for 48 weeks) was intended to be near the maximum tolerable dose. The rationale for selecting this dosage was based on the knowledge that interferon alfa-2b has direct antiproliferative and immunomodulatory actions on melanoma and that these effects would potentially be maximized by use of the highest tolerable dose. Additional rationale came from clinical trials that showed that high doses of interferon References 1. Kirkwood JM, Strawderman MH, Ernstoff MS, Smith TJ, Borden EC, Blum RH. Interferon alfa-2b adjuvant therapy of high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma: the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group trial EST 1684 . J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:7-17. 2. Hermanek P, Sobin LH, eds. TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours . 4th ed. Geneva, Switzerland: International Union Against Cancer (U1CC); 1987. 3. Balch CM, Buzaid AC. Finally, a successful adjuvant therapy for high-risk melanoma . J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:1-3. 4. Cole BF, Gelber RD, Kirkwood JM, Goldhirsch A, Barylak E, Borden E. Quality-of-life adjusted survival analysis of interferon alfa-2b adjuvant treatment of high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study . J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:2666-2673. 5. Cascinelli N. Evaluation of efficacy of adjuvant interferon alfa-2a in melanoma patients with regional node metastases . Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol. 1995; 14:410. Abstract. 6. Creagan ET, Dalton RJ, Ahmann DL, et al. Randomized, surgical adjuvant clinical trial of recombinant interferon alfa-2a in selected patients with malignant melanoma . J Clin Oncol. 1995;13:2776-2783. 7. Kattan MW, Inoue Y, Giles FJ, et al. Cost-effectiveness of interferon-alpha and conventional chemotherapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia . Ann Intern Med. 1996;125:541-548.Crossref 8. Wong JB, Koff RS, Tinè F, Pauker SG. Cost-effectiveness of interferon-alpha 2b treatment for hepatitis B antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B . Ann Intern Med. 1995;122:664-675.Crossref 9. Bennett WG, Inoue Y, Beck JR, Pauker SG, Davis GL. Justification of a single 6-month course of interferon (IFN) for histologically mild chronic hepatitis C . Hepatology . 1995;22:290. Abstract.

Journal

Archives of Dermatology – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1997

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