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8th
International Inter University Scientific Meeting
Academy of Studenica
NEW
TRENDS IN DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPY OF MALIGNANT TUMORS
Organizer:
Institute of Oncology Sremska Kamenica, Yugoslavia
Co-organizers: Institute
for Oncology and Radiology, Belgrade, Yugoslavia;
"Aristotel School", Thessaloniki, Greece
President: Prof.Dr.
Vladimir Vit. Baltiæ
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IMMUNOCHEMOTHERAPY
OF MELANOMA
B. Nikolin, S. Salma, V. Vit. Baltiæ
Institute of Oncology, Sremska Kamenica,
Yugoslavia
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ABSTRACT
Melanoma
is the most significant malignant tumor characterized by a high
malignant potential and an outstanding possibility for giving metastasis.
The aim of therapy is a radical surgical removal and application
of procedures to prevent recurrence and dissemination of malignancy.
It is now accepted that treatment of choice is excision of tumor,
followed by immunotherapy with modulators of biological response
with interferon, for the group of high risk patients (tumor thickness>4mm).
The aim of this study was evaluation of the effects of adjuvant
immunotherapy on disease free interval and overall survival in patients
radically operated for melanoma. We also compared the effects of
combined immuno-chemotherapy and the chemotherapy alone, on overall
survival in patients in the stadium of metastatic disease. The study
comprise 84 patients operated for melanoma in period January 1990-January
2001. The patients were divided in four approximately equal groups.
The I group (control), had 18 persons and was treated by adjuvant
chemotherapy, II group was treated by adjuvant immunotherapy by
interferon-a 2a, III and IV group were patients in stadium of metastatic
disease. III group was treated by combined immuno-chemotherapy and
IV group was treated by chemotherapy alone. Statistical analysis
based mainly on Kaplan-Meier product limit method showed significant
difference (p<0.0293) in disease-free interval and overall survival
(p<0.0319) between control group and group treated by adjuvant immunotherapy
in favour of the group wich received interferon. We have also found
significant difference in overall survival between groups in a stadium
of metastatic disease in favour of group treated by combined immuno-chemotherapy.
In conclusion we can say that adjuvant immunotherapy by interferon-a
2a significantly lowered the risk of relapse or metastatic lesions
and have an important influence on disease-free interval and overall
survival on high risk melanoma patients. |
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Keywords:
Melanoma; Adjuvant immunotherapy, Chemotherapy |
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