Counterpoint: The Case Against Adjuvant High-Dose Interferon-α for Melanoma Patients

Author:
Paul B. Chapman Melanoma section, Clinical Immunology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer, New York, New York

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Volume/Issue:
Volume 2: Issue 1
Online Publication Date:
Jan 2004
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2004.0005
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High dose interferon-α (HD IFN) is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for adjuvant treatment of patients with stage III melanoma after complete surgical resection. Despite this, clinicians and patients around the world and in many parts of the US have failed to embrace this treatment option because of the lack of overall survival benefit and minimal other clinical benefits seen in randomized trials, combined with the therapy's substantial toxicity. This article reviews the data from the randomized trials that lead to this conclusion and discuss why arguments often advanced in favor of using HD IFN are not persuasive. New treatment options are needed for adjuvant therapy of melanoma. In the meantime, the data from the randomized trials make it difficult for many clinicians and patients to have enthusiasm for adjuvant HD IFN.

Correspondence: Paul B. Chapman, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, Room K718, New York, NY 10021-6007. E-mail: chapmanp@mskcc.org
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Print ISSN:
1540-1405
Online ISSN:
1540-1413
Publisher:
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Cover Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
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Copyright:
Copyright © 2004 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2004
Page Numbers:
4
Article Category:
Research Article
Received:
06 Aug 2003
Accepted:
17 Oct 2003
Print Publication Date:
01 Jan 2004
Online Publication Date:
Jan 2004
Keywords:
Melanoma; interferon-α; adjuvant immunotherapy; randomized trials; survival rates

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