COMBINATION CYTO-TOXIC CHEMOTHERAPY WITH CCNU, PROCARBAZINE, AND VINCRISTINE IN DISSEMINATED CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA - 3 YEARS FOLLOW-UP

Abstract

Patients (30) with disseminated cutaneous malignant melanoma were treated with a 3-drug cytotoxic chemotherapy program consisting of CCNU, procarbazines and vincristine. Of 30 patients, 18 (60%) showed objective regressions, including 10 complete responses (33%). Responders had cutaneous, nodal and/or pulmonary involvement; objective regressions were not achieved in patients with hepatic or brain metastases. The median response duration was 8 mo. and the median survival of the responders was 20 mo. compared to 5 mo. for nonresponders. These promising preliminary results require confirmation.