Question:
Does anyone know anything about treating melanoma with interferon? A friend's father (c. 75 years of age) has just been advised to do this treatment and we're looking for more info.
Thanks.
Answer:
There has been a recently reported trial from the ECOG (Eastern
Cooperative Oncology Group) in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,
Jan. 1996 that reported on a trial of adjuvant interferon in high
doses in patients at high risk for disease recurrence. The people
who benefitted were persons with lymph node spread.
The doses used are pretty stiff (a lot of side effects) and the
majority of patients required dose adjustment, but the absolute
difference in survival and recurrence were small, but significant,
and I would certainly give thought to it.
