Biomaterial Database

Chemotherapy for advanced malignant melanoma. 1992

A C Buzaid, and J Murren

Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.

Systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma remains disappointing. Nor new single agent has demonstrated promising results. The combination of cisplatin, decarbazine, carmustine, and tamoxifen appears to be one of the most active regimens with an overall response rate approaching 50%. In some patients, responses have been durable and exceed 3 years. Sequential small phase II trials suggest that tamoxifen is an important component in this combination. The efficacy of the combination of hormonal and chemotherapy, however, needs to be corroborated in a large multicenter phase II trial. In addition, further laboratory and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the role of tamoxifen. Biological response modifiers, such as interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon, have limited activity as single agents, but in combination with cytotoxic agents show some promise and merit further evaluation. Future research should focus on the development of more effective agents, and on the use of aggressive adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk patients with locally advanced disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007155	Immunologic Factors	Biologically active substances whose activities affect or play a role in the functioning of the immune system.	Biological Response Modifier,Biomodulator,Immune Factor,Immunological Factor,Immunomodulator,Immunomodulators,Biological Response Modifiers,Biomodulators,Factors, Immunologic,Immune Factors,Immunological Factors,Modifiers, Biological Response,Response Modifiers, Biological,Factor, Immune,Factor, Immunological,Factors, Immune,Factors, Immunological,Modifier, Biological Response,Response Modifier, Biological
D008545	Melanoma	A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445)	Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D010865	Pilot Projects	Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work.	Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D002330	Carmustine	A cell-cycle phase nonspecific alkylating antineoplastic agent. It is used in the treatment of brain tumors and various other malignant neoplasms. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p462) This substance may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen according to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985). (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	BCNU,1,3-Bis(2-Chloroethyl)-1-Nitrosourea,BiCNU,FIVB,N,N'-Bis(2-Chloroethyl)-N-Nitrosourea,Nitrumon
D002945	Cisplatin	An inorganic and water-soluble platinum complex. After undergoing hydrolysis, it reacts with DNA to produce both intra and interstrand crosslinks. These crosslinks appear to impair replication and transcription of DNA. The cytotoxicity of cisplatin correlates with cellular arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle.	Platinum Diamminodichloride,cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum(II),cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum(II),Biocisplatinum,Dichlorodiammineplatinum,NSC-119875,Platidiam,Platino,Platinol,cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum,cis-Platinum,Diamminodichloride, Platinum,cis Diamminedichloroplatinum,cis Platinum
D003131	Combined Modality Therapy	The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used.	Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D003606	Dacarbazine	An antineoplastic agent. It has significant activity against melanomas. (from Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 31st ed, p564)	DTIC,5-(3,3-Dimethyl-1-triazeno)imidazole-4-carboxamide,Biocarbazine,DIC,DTIC-Dome,Decarbazine,Deticene,Dimethyl Imidazole Carboxamide,Dimethyl Triazeno Imidazole Carboxamide,ICDT,NSC-45388,Carboxamide, Dimethyl Imidazole,DTIC Dome,DTICDome,Imidazole Carboxamide, Dimethyl,NSC 45388,NSC45388
D004341	Drug Evaluation	Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals.	Evaluation Studies, Drug,Drug Evaluation Studies,Drug Evaluation Study,Drug Evaluations,Evaluation Study, Drug,Evaluation, Drug,Evaluations, Drug,Studies, Drug Evaluation,Study, Drug Evaluation
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000970	Antineoplastic Agents	Substances that inhibit or prevent the proliferation of NEOPLASMS.	Anticancer Agent,Antineoplastic,Antineoplastic Agent,Antineoplastic Drug,Antitumor Agent,Antitumor Drug,Cancer Chemotherapy Agent,Cancer Chemotherapy Drug,Anticancer Agents,Antineoplastic Drugs,Antineoplastics,Antitumor Agents,Antitumor Drugs,Cancer Chemotherapy Agents,Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Agents,Chemotherapeutic Anticancer Drug,Agent, Anticancer,Agent, Antineoplastic,Agent, Antitumor,Agent, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Anticancer,Agents, Antineoplastic,Agents, Antitumor,Agents, Cancer Chemotherapy,Agents, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Chemotherapy Agent, Cancer,Chemotherapy Agents, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drug, Cancer,Chemotherapy Drugs, Cancer,Drug, Antineoplastic,Drug, Antitumor,Drug, Cancer Chemotherapy,Drug, Chemotherapeutic Anticancer,Drugs, Antineoplastic,Drugs, Antitumor,Drugs, Cancer Chemotherapy