Recombinant interleukin-2-based treatments for advanced melanoma: the experience of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Cooperative Group.

Abstract

Review of the literature and the outcome of our first trial indicate that the addition of single-agent cisplatin or polychemotherapy regimens to immunotherapy with rIL-2 and/or IFN-alpha can dramatically improve response rates. However, what impact, if any, these regimens have on overall survival is not known at this time. We could not demonstrate a survival benefit in the cisplatin-containing arm in spite of the increased response rate. Chemotherapy may yield only short-term responses, whereas immunotherapy appears to yield durable complete responses in a subset of patients. Further randomized phase III studies are needed to identify the essential components in combination regimens and to determine whether the toxicity associated with these regimens is outweighed by potential cure or a significant survival benefit.