Dose-Dependent Treatment Benefit in High-Risk Melanoma Patients Receiving Adjuvant High-Dose Interferon Alfa-2b

This retrospective analysis of 150 consecutive high-risk melanoma patients treated with high-dose interferon alfa-2b at a single institution demonstrates similar relapse-free and overall survival data, as previously published from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and Intergroup trials. The data suggest at least a transient dose dependency of the treatment effect on relapse-free and overall survival with high-dose interferon in high-risk melanoma patients. Background: Adjuvant high-dose interferon seems to be the best adjuvant treatment option for patients with high-risk melanoma (AJCC-stage IIC, III) after definitive surgery. Methods: One-hundred fifty consecutive patients were treated at our institution during the period from September 1997 to March 2003 were retrospectively studied. Results: After a median follow-up of 35 months, 63% of patients had developed a melanoma relapse, and 37% were relapse- free. Fifty-five percent of patients are still alive, and 45% had died—all but 3 patients from ...