Treatment Information

Back

Melanoma treatment details. Chemotherapy, Biologic therapy.

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.

Survival: monthsCountry:Italy
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Milan
Treatments:Chemotherapy, Biologic therapyHospital:Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Dec 2010

Description:

Patients:
This study involved 20 previously untreated metastatic melanoma patients with a median age of 54 years (range of 22-75). Sixty (60) percent of the patients were male.

Treatment:
Patients were given a combination of the biologic therapy bevacizumab (an antibody the blocks a protein involved in cancer cell growth) and the chemotherapy agent fotemustine as a first-line treatment.

Toxicity:
The maximum toxicity level reported was of grade 4. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was reported by 50% of the patients and 20% had grade 3-4 hypertension. There was also one case each of pulmonary embolism, serious shortness of breath, and uterine bleeding.

Results:
The reported median overall survival was 20.5 months.

Support:
One of the authors is employed by Roche, makers of bevacizumab.

Correspondence: Dr. Andrea Anichini; email: [email protected]



Back