1. ¹Fachklinik Hornheide an der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Dorbaumstr. 300, Münster 48157, Germany
2. ²Europäisches Institut für Tumor Immunologie und Prävention (EUTIP), Bad Honnef, Germany

Correspondence: Professor Dr med J Atzpodien, Fachklinik Hornheide an der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Dorbaumstr. 300, Münster 48157, Germany. E-mail: SekrProfAtzpodien@yahoo.de

³The first author has been supported by grants of the Deutsche Krebshilfe, Wilhelm Sander-Stiftung, and Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Förderung immunologischer Krebstherapien e.V.

Received 10 May 2007; Revised 6 September 2007; Accepted 26 September 2007; Published online 30 October 2007.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of cisplatin, gemcitabine, and treosulfan (CGT) in 91 patients with pretreated relapsed AJCC stage IV cutaneous malignant melanoma. Patients in relapse after first-, second-, or third-line therapy received 40 mg m^-2 intravenous (i.v.) cisplatin, 1000 mg m^-2 i.v. gemcitabine, and 2500 mg m^-2 i.v. treosulfan on days 1 and 8. Cisplatin, gemcitabine, and treosulfan therapy was repeated every 5 weeks until progression of disease occurred. A maximum of 11 CGT cycles (mean, two cycles) was administered per patient. Four patients (4%) showed a partial response; 15 (17%) patients had stable disease; and 72 (79%) patients progressed upon first re-evaluation. Overall survival of all 91 patients was 6 months (2-year survival rate, 7%). Patients with partial remission or stable disease exhibited a median overall survival of 11 months (2-year survival rate, 36%), while patients with disease progression upon first re-evaluation had a median overall survival of 5 months (2-year survival rate, 0%). Treatment with CGT was efficient in one-fifth of the pretreated relapsed stage IV melanoma patients achieving disease stabilisation or partial remission with prolonged but limited survival.