Journal article
Adjuvant therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2b versus observation alone in resected stage III melanoma: final results of EORTC 18991, a randomised phase III trial
Alexander MM Eggermont, Stefan Suciu, Mario Santinami, Alessandro Testori, Wim HJ Kruit, Jeremy Marsden, Cornelis JA Punt, Francois Sales, Martin Gore, Rona MacKie, Zvonko Kusic, Reinhard Dummer, Axel Hauschild, Elena Musat, Alain Spatz, Ulrich Keilholz
The Lancet | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2008
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Any benefit of adjuvant interferon alfa-2b for melanoma could depend on dose and duration of treatment. Our aim was to determine whether pegylated interferon alfa-2b can facilitate prolonged exposure while maintaining tolerability. METHODS: 1256 patients with resected stage III melanoma were randomly assigned to observation (n=629) or pegylated interferon alfa-2b (n=627) 6 mug/kg per week for 8 weeks (induction) then 3 mug/kg per week (maintenance) for an intended duration of 5 years. Randomisation was stratified for microscopic (N1) versus macroscopic (N2) nodal involvement, number of positive nodes, ulceration and tumour thickness, sex, and centre. Randomisation was done with a..
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