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Cutaneous melanoma: interferon alpha adjuvant therapy for patients at high risk for recurrent disease
Author(s) -
Lens Marko
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
dermatologic therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1529-8019
pISSN - 1396-0296
DOI - 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2005.00051.x
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , adjuvant therapy , alpha interferon , adjuvant , randomized controlled trial , clinical trial , oncology , disease , interferon alfa , systemic therapy , dermatology , cancer , immunology , interferon , cancer research , breast cancer
Systemic adjuvant therapy in melanoma patients is the systemic treatment that is administered with the goal of eradicating micrometastatic deposits in patients who are clinically free of disease after surgical removal of the primary melanoma, but with a high risk of systemic recurrence. Interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α) is one of the most frequently used adjuvant therapies. Several randomized trials evaluated the efficacy of IFN‐α in melanoma patients. However, results from conducted trials are controversial. Twelve randomized IFN‐α trials are discussed in detail. All trials, including meta‐analysis, failed to demonstrate a clear impact of IFN‐α therapy on overall survival in melanoma patients. Based on currently available evidence, IFN‐α therapy in the adjuvant setting should not be considered standard of care for patients who have melanoma. Results from ongoing studies are awaited. Further research for this therapy is required.