TREATMENT OF METASTATIC MALIGNANT-MELANOMA WITH CISPLATIN PLUS TAMOXIFEN

A phase II study was performed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of cisplatin (CDDP) and tamoxifen (TAM) in patients wi th metastatic malignant melanoma (MM). A total of 31 consecutive previ ously untreated patients with unresectable measurable MM were given 10 0 mg/m(2) CDDP every 21 days and 60 mg TAM every 12 h daily. All cours es were given on an outpatient basis. A total of 119 courses of treatm ent were given. In all, 5 of the 31 patients (16%) had an objective re sponse (95% confidence interval 5.3-34%) and 2 (6%) achieved a clinica l complete response. The median duration of response was 7 months. The main side effect was gastrointestinal: 13% of the patients experience d grade 3/4 nausea/vomiting. Hematological or neurological toxicities were mild and rare. In conclusion, the combination CDDP-TAM has limite d activity in MM, although its toxicity is tolerable. Our results do n ot allow us to recommend its use for the treatment of MM.