Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
 69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The efficacy of Human 6 IFN (HLIFN) given in a pulse fashion was determined in a phase II study. Ninety-one cancer patients were evaluated (9 myeloma, 12 breast, 14 prostate, 9 melanoma, 4 renal, 6 astrocytoma, 7 ovarian, 9 large bowel, 7 gastric, 14 head and neck). They all had advanced progressive cancer that was resistant to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Patients were treated by intramuscular injection of 6 X 10(2) I.U./m2 for three consecutive days every four weeks. 84 patients were evaluable. Complete clinical response was obtained in 23 patients (4 myeloma, 2 breast, 5 prostate, 1 melanoma, 1 renal, 2 astrocytoma, 2 ovarian, 2 large bowel, 1 gastric, 3 head and neck). Partial responses were observed in 35 patients (3 myeloma, 7 breast, 6 prostate, 4 melanoma, 1 renal, 2 astrocytoma, 3 ovarian, 4 head and neck). Objective responses were related (P less than 0.01) to serum IFN level, with complete and partial responses (P less than 0.01) more commonly seen in those patients whose serum IFN levels at two hours were in the range of 1000 to 1650 I.U./ml. Side effects resulting from pulse IFN were acceptable for this group of patients and consisted of fever, transient chills, malaise and asthenia, and transient thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia. The extent of fever was directly related (P less than 0.01) to response, and was most elevated in patients who achieved objective responses. IFN administered in a pulse fashion appears to be more effective than daily IFN and merits further evaluation.
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PMID:Clinical results of leukocyte interferon-induced tumor regression in resistant human metastatic cancer resistant to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy-pulse therapy schedule. 405 26

Vindesine (VDS) is an analogue of the vinca alkaloids. Its spectrum of antitumoral activity is similar to that of vincristine (VCR), but with milder experimental neurotoxicity, and it inhibits the polymerization of tubulin. Its terminal half-life is 24 h and its plasma clearance is intermediate between those of vinblastine (VLB) and VCR. The maximal tolerated dose is 4-5 mg/m2/week, the dose-limiting toxicity being myelosuppression (nadir by days 7-8 and recovery by days 11-13). It has already been demonstrated as efficient in childhood acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, blastic crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia, and esophageal carcinoma. It has also shown activity in Hodgkin's disease, breast and germ cell carcinomas, and melanoma. Intolerance is mainly neurologic, with paresthesias, without motor impairment, or hematologic, with leukopenia, and sometimes alopecia, asthenia, and muscle pains. The results are better if the patients have not been treated previously; continuous infusion could be of interest and there appears to be no cross-resistance with its parent VCR, as documented in ALL.
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PMID:Vindesine: a new vinca alkaloid. 700 62

The antitumour activity of docetaxel was investigated in patients with advanced malignant melanoma. Docetaxel, 100 mg/m2, intravenous, over 60 min, was administered every 3 weeks. Response evaluation was performed after two cycles. No prophylactic treatment with steroids or antihistamines was given. 38 patients were included, 36 were eligible and evaluable for toxicity and 30 patients were evaluable for response. The main haematological toxicity was neutropenia [17 patients with common toxicity criteria (CTC) grade 4 and 11 CTC grade 3] with nadir after 5-8 days and rapid recovery. The most frequent non-haematological toxicity was generalised alopecia (83% of the patients). Asthenia, malaise and fatigue were also seen in 58%. Skin toxicity was also frequent. Hypersensitivity reactions (erythematous rash, urticaria, blood pressure changes and tachycardia), seen in 42% of the patients, were mild to moderate. Oedema was registered in one fifth of the patients and developed after four or more treatment cycles. The overall response rate in the evaluable patients was 17% (five partial responders). We conclude that docetaxel has activity in advanced malignant melanoma.
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PMID:Docetaxel (Taxotere) in advanced malignant melanoma: a phase II study of the EORTC Early Clinical Trials Group. 765 29

Rhizoxin is a new anti-tumour agent isolated from the pathogenic fungus Rhizopus chinensis. It has shown broad activity against murine tumour models and is also active against vinca alkaloid-resistant cells. The purpose of our studies was to determine the clinical activity of this compound in patients with advanced breast cancer and melanoma. Based on the results of a phase I study, 2.0 mg m-2 was administered as intravenous infusion over 5 min every 21 days. Nineteen patients were entered into the breast cancer phase II trial and received a total of 50 courses (median 2, range 1-6). Of these, dose reductions were performed in three courses because of leucopenia or stomatitis (1.5 mg m-2, one course; 1.45 mg m-2, two courses). Twenty-six patients were entered into the melanoma trial and received a total of 70 courses (median 2, range 1-12). No dose reductions were required. All patients were eligible for toxicity. Haematological toxicity included neutropenia CTC grade 3 (29/120 courses, 24.2%) and grade 4 (11/20 courses, 9.2%). Only drug-related CTC grade 1 thrombocytopenia was observed. Non-haematological toxicity included alopecia in all patients after two courses of treatment as well as CTC grade 3/4 stomatitis and asthenia. In the breast cancer study, one patient achieved a more than 50% tumour reduction after six cycles but was progressing after 6 weeks. Another patient showed a partial remission after the first course but was taken off the study because of CTC grade 3 skin toxicity. One patient was not evaluable for response (early death). No objective remissions were observed in 15 evaluable patients. In melanoma, no objective remissions were observed. We conclude that rhizoxin can be safely administered at 2.0 mg m-2 every 3 weeks. However, it has little activity in patients with advanced breast cancer and melanoma.
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PMID:Phase II clinical trials with rhizoxin in breast cancer and melanoma. The EORTC Early Clinical Trials Group. 856 49

A phase II study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of Bexarotene in melanoma. Between November 1997 and April 1998, 19 patients were given Bexarotene in single daily oral doses of 450 mg/m2 in capsule form continuously. Nineteen patients, four with choroidal metastatic melanoma, were treated. No responses were seen. Five patients had stable disease, two of the four with choroidal melanoma, had tumor progression. Myelosuppression was mild. Grade 3 myalgia, asthenia, diarrhea, cold hands/feet, and mood changes were seen in one patient each. Changes in serum triglyceride and thyroxine levels were common. Bexarotene, as used in this study, is not effective against melanoma.
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PMID:A phase II evaluation of bexarotene (Targretin) capsules in patients with metastatic melanoma. 1085 63

ET-743 is a novel antineoplastic DNA-binding agent derived from the marine tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. It has significant cytotoxic activity against soft tissue sarcomas (STS). It also has in vitro activity against melanoma, breast, ovarian, colon, renal, non-small cell lung and prostate carcinomas. The drug has unique mechanism of action which includes in vitro inhibition of transcription-dependent nucleotide excision repair pathways and inhibition of cell cycle progression leading to p53-independent apoptosis. It also selectively inhibits transcriptional activation of multidrug-resistance (MDR1) gene in human sarcoma cells in vivo. The efficacy of ET-743 has been investigated in patients with advanced STS in three multicentre phase II clinical trials. Patients receiving ET-743 as second- or third-line treatment had partial tumour response rates of 6 to 8%. Patients receiving ET-743 as first-line chemotherapy had a partial response rate of 18%. Forty-two to 50% of all patients in these trials achieved stable disease. All responses were durable up to 14 months. A pooled analysis of the three multicentre phase II trials showed the following: median overall survival time of 10.2 months, 1-year survival rate of 40% and 6-month progression-free rate of 27.2%. ET-743 is generally well tolerated. The most common adverse events in clinical trials were non-cumulative haematological and hepatic toxicities. Transient and reversible elevation of hepatic transaminases, nausea, vomiting and asthenia were common but seldom severe and never treatment-limiting. Mucositis, alopecia and cardiac or neurotoxicities were not observed.
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PMID:ET-743. 1201 79

Our previous studies have demonstrated the existence of synergism in a combination therapy using mitoguazone and gemcitabine when the mitoguazone is administered 24 hours before gemcitabine. Based on the cell culture and animal experimental results, a phase I clinical trial was performed in order to determine the toxicity of the combined treatment. Mitoguazone and gemcitabine were administered sequentially: mitoguazone on day 1 and gemcitabine on day 2. This cycle was repeated every 2 weeks. The dosages of these two drugs were varied between patients. Ten patients were enrolled in the study. Six patients began treatment at dose level 1 (mitoguazone 500 mg/m2, gemcitabine 1500 mg/m2), three at dose level 2 (mitoguazone 500 mg/m2, gemcitabine 2000 mg/m2), and one at dose level 3 (mitoguazone 600 mg/m2, gemcitabine 2000 mg/m2). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was only observed in two patients treated at dose level 1 and one patient treated at dose level 3, while all the other patients only experienced nonhematologic toxicity, such as asthenia and mucositis. Two melanoma patients showed responses (one partial and one minor) to the treatment. One lymphoma patient also showed a brief partial response. This phase I trial indicated that the combination of mitoguazone and gemcitabine had limited but noticeable activity for treatment of cancer patients. Further study on the toxicity and on the effect of the scheduled mitoguazone-gemcitabine combination is needed.
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PMID:A phase I human trial of mitoguazone and gemcitabine sequential bi-weekly treatment of cancer patients. 1453 44

The Kirkwood high-dose interferon-alpha2b adjuvant therapy in high-risk-of-recurrence melanoma patients (stage IIb-III) demonstrated a benefit in terms of disease-free survival (DFS) (three trials out of three) and overall survival (OS) (two trials out of three). These important and exclusive results match with a grade 3-4 toxicity in about 75% of patients. This problem is the most limiting of this treatment. The aim of the study was to check these results and the feasibility of this treatment using the original Kirkwood schedule of 52 weeks, with appropriate dose modification, until unacceptable toxicity or progression of disease. From 23rd February 1998 until 29th July 2002, 26 patients were treated (mean age 45 years; range 25-70) with high-dose interferon-alpha2b adjuvant therapy. All patients were evaluated for toxicity, whilst 24 out of 26 (92%) were evaluated for OS and DFS. All patients were in stage IIB/III of the new American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification. The sentinel node biopsy was performed in 19 out of 26 (73.1%) patients (clinical N0). At 31st December 2002, 20 out of 26 (77%) were still alive, whilst four (15%) had died and two (8%) were lost to follow-up. Of the patients still alive, 14 (70%) were disease free. The patients lost to follow-up refused to continue therapy for toxicity related treatment: one of them was disease free, whereas one was relapsed. There were 11 observed relapses (44%). The DFS ranged from 2 to 27 months. Among the patients, the maximal DFS is, at the time of writing, 59 months. The DFS mean is 29 months, the median is 19 months. The OS calculation will be performed at the end of 5 years observation. Now our attention is on therapy tolerability. In 18 patients out of 26 (69%) we noted at least one grade 3-4 toxicity, in accordance with literature data. The most common toxicities were haematological, hepatic, fever and asthenia. Overall, only two grade 4 events (one hepatic and one haematological) were reported. Grade 3 toxicity was hepatic in 23% of patients and haematological in 50%. Grade 2 toxicity was hepatic in 19%, haematological in 27% and fever in 50%. Grade 1 toxicities were hepatic, haematological and fever in 15, 15 and 35% of patients, respectively. Asthenia was severe in 54%, mild in 31% and not found in 15%. In 39, 4 and 15%, respectively, we have reported no hepatic, haematological or fever events. Less common toxicities were nausea, diarrhoea, headache, arthralgia, alopecia and one case of hypothyroidism. As a result of these reported toxicities, of 23 patients evaluable with regard to the protocol, 12 underwent dose reductions, six suspended treatment for disease progression, eight delayed treatment for toxicity, two interrupted treatment indefinitely for unacceptable toxicity or refused treatment, two refused to continue, two patients had no delay in treatment and three did not receive any delay or dose reduction. Of three patients still in therapy, just one has so far received a delay in treatment. Overall, only four patients (17%) interrupted therapy for toxicity related events, whereas 83% continued with the expected program: 52 weeks of therapy with appropriate dose modifications.
Melanoma Res 2004 Apr
PMID:Feasibility of high-dose interferon-alpha2b adjuvant therapy for high-risk resected cutaneous melanoma. 1505 49

From post-mortem case records, the small bowel is the most frequent site of metastatic melanoma in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, with gallbladder involvement occurring in 15% of cases. However, few cases have been documented in living patients and, when found, are associated with a poor prognosis. We report a case of a Caucasian man with metastatic gallbladder and small bowel melanoma from an unknown primary. He presented with diffuse abdominal pain, vomiting and progressive asthenia; subsequently, intestinal obstruction occurred. He had no past history of malignant melanoma and the primary lesion was not found. The multiple lesions, together with the absence of mucosal involvement in both the gallbladder and small bowel, led us to believe that the lesions were metastatic deposits from a probably regressed primary melanoma. It should be emphasized that surgical resection for melanoma metastatic to the GI tract is recommended for palliative reasons and can be performed safely. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of previously reported cases of melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder and small bowel are reviewed. The differences between primary and secondary GI tract melanomas are also discussed.
Melanoma Res 2004 Oct
PMID:Melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder and small bowel: report of a case and review of the literature. 1545 2

Metastatic melanoma carries a dismal prognosis and there is a need to develop new treatment strategies. Vinca alkaloids have shown consistent activity in melanoma patients, as monotherapy and as part of combination regimens. The current study evaluates the clinical activity and tolerability of vinorelbine as first-line monotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. Patients were eligible if they presented metastatic melanoma not amenable to curative resection, had received no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease and had an adequate performance status (ECOG 0-1). Patients received vinorelbine at a dose of 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle, on an outpatient basis. Thirteen patients were accrued into the study and received 64 cycles. All patients were assessable for response, toxicity and survival. No objective responses were documented, for an overall response rate of 0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0-19%] and the trial was terminated in accordance to the predetermined early discontinuation rule. The median progression-free survival was 3.3 months (95% CI 2.3-4.3 months) and the estimated median overall survival was 8.1 months (95% CI 6.0-10.2 months). No life-threatening toxicities occurred. Neutropenia was the main hematologic toxicity, but none of the three episodes of grade 3-4 neutropenia were complicated by infection. The most common non-hematologic toxicities were asthenia, nausea, neuropathy and myalgia. We conclude that vinorelbine as a single agent on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle has a favorable toxicity profile, but appears to have no relevant clinical activity in patients with metastatic melanoma.
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PMID:Phase II trial of vinorelbine tartrate in patients with treatment-naive metastatic melanoma. 1561 4


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