Choices in adjuvant therapy of melanoma

Abstract

Background: High-dose interferon (IFN) is the approved agent for adjuvant treatment of melanoma in the United States. This approval is for high-risk, predominantly stage III patients with cutaneous primaries. There are still decisions to be made in the care of these patients. Also, there are questions about whether the IFN data can be extrapolated to patients with other stages of melanoma and whether adjuvant treatment should be offered to these individuals. Clearly there is room for improvement in this area.

Methods: The literature on this topic and ongoing national trials in the United States were reviewed.

Results: The data are insufficient to recommend other agents in the adjuvant treatment of melanoma outside a clinical trial. Extrapolation of the IFN data to patient populations other than those studied is problematic at best. National trials are available for most patient populations.

Conclusions: The adjuvant treatment of choice for melanoma patients is participation in a clinical trial.