IArticle title: "Complete Remission of Brain Metastases in three Patients with Stage IV Melanoma Treated with BOLD and G-CSF

http://jjco.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/9/507.full

The above journal article, based on the work of Italian researchers, reports a successful treatment for brain mets. I am posting it because perhaps some of you might wish to discuss it with doctors. I hope this can help someone.

IArticle title: "Complete Remission of Brain Metastases in three Patients with Stage IV Melanoma Treated with BOLD and G-CSF

http://jjco.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/9/507.full

The above journal article, based on the work of Italian researchers, reports a successful treatment for brain mets. I am posting it because perhaps some of you might wish to discuss it with doctors. I hope this can help someone.

Complete Remission of Brain Metastases in Three Patients with Stage IV Melanoma Treated with BOLD and G-CSF

1. Ugo Bottoni1,
2. Paola Bonaccorsi2,
3. Valeria Devirgiliis2,
4. Vincenzo Panasiti2,
5. Riccardo Giovanni Borroni2,
6. Guido Trasimeni3,
7. Rita Clerico2 and
8. Stefano Calvieri2

+ Author Affiliations

1. 
   
   ¹Department of Dermatology, University of Catanzaro, Magna Graecia, ²Department of Dermatology, University of Rome, La Sapienza and ³Department of Radiology, General Medicine I, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy

1. For reprints and all correspondence: Ugo Bottoni, Department of Dermatology, University of Catanzaro, Magna Graecia, Via Sinopoli, 9, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]

• Received April 13, 2005.

Abstract

Methods: Accidentally, we observed a complete response (CR) in a patient undergoing chemotherapy with bleomycin, vincristine or Oncovin, CCNU or lomustine, dacarbazine (BOLD) regimen for metastatic melanoma including brain metastases, who was also treated with G-CSF to manage a concomitant leukopenia. After this observation, seven more patients with stage IV melanoma with brain metastases were treated with BOLD regimen repeated every 6 weeks with administration of G-CSF in the intervals.

Results: Three patients presented CR (37.5%). Two patients stopped the treatment after two courses for evident progressive disease (25%). The other three patients showed stable disease (SD: 37.5%). Median duration of SD was 24 weeks. Among the eight patients, six (75%) achieved clinical benefit. Median time to progression was 8.5 months (range 0–74+ months). Median survival was 12.5 months (range 4–74+ months). Two patients are still alive and disease-free after 74 and 57 months, respectively.

Conclusion: We believe that the brilliant CR, the long duration of the disease-free intervals and the long survival in at least three of eight patients should encourage further research on BOLD with G-CSF for the treatment of advanced melanoma.