Abstract
In a Phase I study, melphalan 140 mg/m2 was administered to 8 patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. Marrow was removed from the patients immediately before melphalan administration and returned i.v. 8 h later. Studies on marrow culture and melphalan pharmacokinetics predicted that this was a safe time to administer non-cryopreserved marrow. Four patients received lower doses of i.v. melphalan without autologous marrow. In the group receiving autologous marrow the time for recovery of peripheral-blood granulocytes to 800/mm2 or greater was significantly less (P = 0.01) than in those not receiving marrow. In 7 patients the tumour showed evidence of response to the drug and there was 1 complete remission. This treatment deserves investigation in patients with tumours more sensitive to drugs than melanoma.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McElwain, T., Hedley, D., Burton, G. et al. Marrow autotransplantation accelerates haematological recovery in patients with malignant melanoma treated with high-dose melphalan. Br J Cancer 40, 72–80 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1979.142
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1979.142
This article is cited by
-
Hyperhydration is not necessary for high-dose melphalan in stem cell transplantation
Bone Marrow Transplantation (2020)
-
Phase II trial of intravenous melphalan for metastatic colorectal carcinoma
Investigational New Drugs (1990)
-
Haematological recovery following high-dose cyclophosphamide with autologous bone marrow transplantation
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology (1989)
