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Treatment of malignant melanoma with methyl CCNU
Author(s) -
Young Robert C.,
Canellos George P.,
Chabner Bruce A.,
Schein Philip S.,
Brereton Harmar D.,
DeVita Vincent T.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1974156617
Subject(s) - leukopenia , medicine , melanoma , toxicity , lomustine , bone marrow suppression , gastroenterology , surgery , oncology , chemotherapy , vincristine , cyclophosphamide , cancer research
Twenty‐eight patients with disseminated malignant melanoma were treated with methyl‐1‐(2‐chloroethyl) 3‐(4‐methyl cyclohexyl‐1‐nitrosourea (MeCCNU) administered as a single dose orally every 6 weeks. Six patients (21%) had a complete or partial regression of measurable disease. The median duration of the partial remissions was 2 months and for the 1 complete remission, 18 months. The median survival of those responding to therapy (10.6 months) was significantly longer than those who failed to respond (4.2 months). Regressions of skin, intracutaneous, and nodal disease were most common, but 4 patients had regression of lung metastasis and 1 patient had regression of bone metastasis. Toxicity was primarily delayed thrombocytopenia and to a lesser extent leukopenia occurring within 4 to 6 weeks. Hematopoietic toxicity was significant but manageable. Most patients received treatment as outpatients. The response rate, ease of administration, and absence of sex difference in response make MeCCNU potentially useful in the chemotherapeutic management of disseminated malignant melanoma.