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Abstracts from ASCO…and the Interferon debate

Forums General Melanoma Community Abstracts from ASCO…and the Interferon debate

  • Post
    EmilyandMike
    Participant

       

      We have seen all of the “news” about the "new" melanoma drugs at the ASCO conference (not really new news to most of us).  You can see a full list of the melanoma abstracts here: http://abstract.asco.org/CatAbstView_102_121_AA.html

       

      We have seen all of the “news” about the "new" melanoma drugs at the ASCO conference (not really new news to most of us).  You can see a full list of the melanoma abstracts here: http://abstract.asco.org/CatAbstView_102_121_AA.html

      There were a few abstracts about interferon that covered the debate for Stage 3 patients (1 year vs 1 month, 1 month vs observation, long term PegIFN vs observation) and you might be interested to read them… although I am not sure that it clarifies much:

      http://abstract.asco.org/AbstView_102_83141.html

      EORTC 18991 phase III trial: Long-term adjuvant pegylated interferon-α2b (PEG-IFN) versus observation in resected stage III melanoma: Long-term results at 7.6-years follow-up.

      Conclusions:Long-term PEG-IFN therapy in stage III melanoma had a significant and sustained impact on RFS (recurrence free survival), but not on DMFS (distant met free survival) and OS (overall survival). Patients with only microscopic nodal involvement (sentinel node positive) seemed to have a greater benefit of PEG-IFN in terms of RFS, and marginally regarding DMFS and OS. In the smaller subgroup of pts with sentinel node positive and with ulcerated melanoma, the benefit seemed to be the most striking and consistent regarding all endpoints, and was maintained at long term follow-up. These effects have been observed in 2 consecutive EORTC trials (18952 and 18991) involving 2,644 patients.

      http://abstract.asco.org/AbstView_102_77947.html

      Randomized phase III trial of high-dose interferon alfa-2b (HDI) for 4 weeks induction only in patients with intermediate- and high-risk melanoma (Intergroup trial E 1697)

      Conclusions: Adjuvant HDI induction with only 4 weeks therapy neither improved RFS nor OS over observation for patients with intermediate and high-risk melanoma. This trial supports the importance of HDI treatment duration and argues that the approved 1 year Interferon regimen of induction followed by maintenance remains the standard of care for pts with T4N0 or node positive disease.

      http://abstract.asco.org/AbstView_102_79446.html

      A randomized phase II trial of 1 month versus 1 year of adjuvant high-dose interferon alfa-2b in high-risk acral melanoma patients.
      Conclusions: The preliminary results of this study demonstrated no statistically significance were detected in RFS between the 4 weeks and 1 year regimen for all the high-risk population, while a 1-year regimen showed a significant clinical benefit in patients with stage IIIb-IIIc Acral Melanoma or nodal metastases ≥3. Further survival data are needed for long-term follow-up.

      http://abstract.asco.org/AbstView_102_80361.html

      Intensified high-dose intravenous interferon alpha 2b (IFNa2b) for adjuvant treatment of stage III melanoma: A randomized phase III Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI) trial

      Conclusions: Our data show that a shorter but more intensive HDI regimen is more feasible and not more toxic than conventional HDI.

      http://abstract.asco.org/AbstView_102_80167.html

      Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the Nordic randomized trial of adjuvant intermediate-dose interferon alfa-2b in high-risk melanoma.
      Conclusions: The results of this study revealed significant effects of IFN alfa-2b treatment on HRQOL. The impact on HRQOL is important to consider as part of the decision process on whether or not to use adjuvant Interferon.

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    • Replies
        MariaH
        Participant

          Thank you for posting this. My husband's melanoma was ulcerated with microscopic involvement in three nodes.  He did the year of interferon, and is 2.5 years NED. 

          MariaH
          Participant

            Thank you for posting this. My husband's melanoma was ulcerated with microscopic involvement in three nodes.  He did the year of interferon, and is 2.5 years NED. 

            Lauri England
            Participant

              I am in my 9th month of the year long Interferon and at this time still NED. I am IIIC.  If no recurrance then the year of hell would be worth it.  I am 36 and I am raising my 2 1/2 year old grandson.  He does keep me going each and every day.  I think this article is very positive.  I along with several other people will fight to the end, no matter what.

              Lauri England
              Participant

                I am in my 9th month of the year long Interferon and at this time still NED. I am IIIC.  If no recurrance then the year of hell would be worth it.  I am 36 and I am raising my 2 1/2 year old grandson.  He does keep me going each and every day.  I think this article is very positive.  I along with several other people will fight to the end, no matter what.

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