Combined chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic melanoma - is there a need for the double?

The therapeutic benefit of adding immunotherapeutic agents such as interfer on (IFN)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-2 to established single-agent or combin ation chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of metastatic melanoma has no t been proven. On the contrary, recent studies indicate a significantly hig her incidence of severe toxic side effects in patients treated with combine d biochemotherapy. This article summarizes recent trials using either chemo therapy alone or chemotherapy plus the administration of IFN-alpha and/or I L-2 to evaluate the benefit of a combined biochemotherapy. [(C) 2000 Lippin cott Williams & Wilkins.].