Chemotherapy and immunotherapy of metastatic malignant melanomas]

Prognosis in metastatic malignant melanoma is poor because of chemo and radiotherapy resistance. However, some drugs, such as dacarbazine, cisplatinum or fotemustine, a new nitrosourea, have produced a response rate of more than 20%. Combining these drugs increases response rate to 30-40%. Immunotherapy by interferon-alpha 2 shows about 15-20% response rate but interleukin-2 would be more effective especially in combination with cisplatinum and interferon-alpha 2 with 50% response and long survival after cessation of treatment.