Evidence-based and interdisciplinary consensus-based German guidelines: systemic medical treatment of melanoma in the adjuvant and palliative setting

• DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0b013e3282f702bf
• Publication Date: 2009-03-05T15:59:31Z
• Authors: Claus Garbe; Axel Hauschild; Matthias Volkenandt; Dirk Schadendorf; Wilhelm Stolz; Uwe Reinhold; Rolf-Dieter Kortmann; Christoph Kettelhack; Bernhard Frerich; Ulrich Keilholz; Reinhard Dummer; Günther Sebastian; Wolfgang Tilgen; Gerold Schuler; Andreas Mackensen; Roland Kaufmann
• Keywords: Chemoimmunotherapy; Regimen; Systemic therapy; Adjuvant Therapy

Systemic medical treatment of melanoma is administered in the adjuvant and palliative setting. Adjuvant therapy may be considered patients with primary more than 1.5 mm tumor thickness regional node metastasis. Presently no indication for systemic chemotherapy or nonspecific immune-stimulatory agents outside controlled studies seen. Interferon-α first substance melanoma, which has shown to present a significant advantage some prospective randomized studies. Good arguments using interferon-α high-risk exist. Both high-dose low-dose show promise. The major indications chemoimmunotherapy are inoperable recurrent tumors, metastases distant (stage IV). As such situations primarily palliative, effect any regimen on quality life must carefully weighed. line treatment, single agent recommended, as polychemotherapy biochemotherapy did not advantages prolongation survival; hence they toxic. An urgent need development new modalities necessary general principles experimental immunotherapy outlined.