Biomaterial Database

[Immuno-chemotherapy in patients with disseminated metastasizing stage III melanoma. Randomized study with methyl-CCNU versus C. parvum plus methyl-CCNU]. 1978

E M Kokoschka, and T Luger, and M Micksche

34 patients with disseminated malignant melanoma (stage III) were randomized to the following therapy groups: Chemotherapy (MeCCNU, NSC 99441; 200 mg/m2, given orally every 8 weeks), or immuno-chemotherapy (1 mg Corynebacterium parvum i.v., on days 1-4 + MeCCNU 200 mg/m2 on day 8, repeated every 7 weeks). Total therapy response rate was 33%; total and partial remissions were achieved in 26% of the patients receiving chemotherapy, and in 40% under immuno-chemotherapy. Interim life table analysis shows that in the group receiving C. parvum + MeCCNU 50% of the patients survived more than 12 months, whereas in the group with MeCCNU survival of 50% was 6 months. Pretreatment with C. parvum did not only potentiate the therapeutic effect, but also reduce the myelosuppression of MeCCNU.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
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
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009367	Neoplasm Staging	Methods which attempt to express in replicable terms the extent of the neoplasm in the patient.	Cancer Staging,Staging, Neoplasm,Tumor Staging,TNM Classification,TNM Staging,TNM Staging System,Classification, TNM,Classifications, TNM,Staging System, TNM,Staging Systems, TNM,Staging, Cancer,Staging, TNM,Staging, Tumor,System, TNM Staging,Systems, TNM Staging,TNM Classifications,TNM Staging Systems
D009607	Nitrosourea Compounds	A class of compounds in which the core molecule is R-NO, where R is UREA.	Compounds, Nitrosourea
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D011425	Propionibacterium acnes	A bacteria isolated from normal skin, intestinal contents, wounds, blood, pus, and soft tissue abscesses. It is a common contaminant of clinical specimens, presumably from the skin of patients or attendants.	Corynebacterium acnes,Corynebacterium parvum
D012075	Remission, Spontaneous	A spontaneous diminution or abatement of a disease over time, without formal treatment.	Spontaneous Healing,Spontaneous Regression,Spontaneous Remission,Healing, Spontaneous,Regression, Spontaneous,Spontaneous Healings,Spontaneous Regressions
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man