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Systemic therapy of malignant melanoma

Systemic therapy of malignant melanoma The present status of medical treatment of malignant melanoma is briefly reviewed, both with regard to adjuvant therapy for individuals with high-risk melanoma and a high probability of harbouring subclinical rnicrometastases, as well as to therapy for establised disseminated (macrometastatic) disease. At present, disseminated, macrometastatic melanoma is incurable in the majority of cases. Single agent chemotherapy has modest effects and results in disease remission in a minority of patients, usually of short duration, Combination chemotherapy, or the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs and cytokines, results in increased response rates and occasionally remissions of prolonged duration. So far, no regimen has demonstrated improved survival compared to single agent therapy in disseminated melanoma. New insights into the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs may lead to development of predictive tests that can identify individuals with tumors sensitive to a specific agent, as well as to the development of strategies to circumvent drug resistance. It has recently been shown that adjuvant therapy of high-risk melanoma with large doses of interferon-α2b significantly prolongs relapse-free and overall survival, at the price of considerable toxicity. Ongoing studies aim to define the optimum dose and duration of adjuvant interferon therapy. Recent advances in molecular biology and immunology may lead to the development of new treatment modalities, such as improved vaccines and other biologic therapies, which may benefit patients with malignant melanoma. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Medical Oncology Springer Journals

Systemic therapy of malignant melanoma

Medical Oncology , Volume 14 (2) – Nov 14, 2008

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References (86)

Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 by Humana Press Inc.
Subject
Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Hematology; Pathology; Internal Medicine
ISSN
1357-0560
eISSN
1559-131X
DOI
10.1007/BF02990951
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The present status of medical treatment of malignant melanoma is briefly reviewed, both with regard to adjuvant therapy for individuals with high-risk melanoma and a high probability of harbouring subclinical rnicrometastases, as well as to therapy for establised disseminated (macrometastatic) disease. At present, disseminated, macrometastatic melanoma is incurable in the majority of cases. Single agent chemotherapy has modest effects and results in disease remission in a minority of patients, usually of short duration, Combination chemotherapy, or the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs and cytokines, results in increased response rates and occasionally remissions of prolonged duration. So far, no regimen has demonstrated improved survival compared to single agent therapy in disseminated melanoma. New insights into the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs may lead to development of predictive tests that can identify individuals with tumors sensitive to a specific agent, as well as to the development of strategies to circumvent drug resistance. It has recently been shown that adjuvant therapy of high-risk melanoma with large doses of interferon-α2b significantly prolongs relapse-free and overall survival, at the price of considerable toxicity. Ongoing studies aim to define the optimum dose and duration of adjuvant interferon therapy. Recent advances in molecular biology and immunology may lead to the development of new treatment modalities, such as improved vaccines and other biologic therapies, which may benefit patients with malignant melanoma.

Journal

Medical OncologySpringer Journals

Published: Nov 14, 2008

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