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Open Access 01-04-2019 | Melanoma | Clinical Trial Report

A pilot study of interferon-alpha-2b dose reduction in the adjuvant therapy of high-risk melanoma

Authors: Lorena P. Suarez-Kelly, Kala M. Levine, Thomas E. Olencki, Sara E. Martin del Campo, Elizabeth A. Streacker, Taylor R. Brooks, Volodymyr I. Karpa, Joseph Markowitz, Anissa K. Bingman, Susan M. Geyer, Kari L. Kendra, William E. Carson

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 4/2019

Excerpt

Melanoma is a highly immunogenic tumor and consequently, efforts have been centered on the development of immune-based treatments for this malignancy [1]. Interferons were initially described in the mid-1950s as proteins that interfere with viral replication [2, 3]. Interferons are cytokines that activate Janus kinases (Jak), which lead to phosphorylation and activation of transcription factors belonging to the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family [4, 5]. Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) became available for use in clinical trials in the mid-1980s [6]. Results suggested that IFN-α inhibited the proliferation of malignant cells and stimulated immune effectors; therefore, IFN-α was initially used in patients with advanced disease [7, 8]. Since then, several meta-analyses have demonstrated that high-dose adjuvant IFN-α (daily 20 MU/m² intravenous induction therapy for 1 month followed by maintenance subcutaneous 10 MU/m² three times per week for at least 1 year) can prolong the disease-free interval in high-risk melanoma patients [9]. …

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Title: A pilot study of interferon-alpha-2b dose reduction in the adjuvant therapy of high-risk melanoma
Authors: Lorena P. Suarez-Kelly
Kala M. Levine
Thomas E. Olencki
Sara E. Martin del Campo
Elizabeth A. Streacker
Taylor R. Brooks
Volodymyr I. Karpa
Joseph Markowitz
Anissa K. Bingman
Susan M. Geyer
Kari L. Kendra
William E. Carson
Publication date: 01-04-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Melanoma
Melanoma
Interferon
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-019-02308-w

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