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Temozolomide in combination with fotemustine in patients with metastatic melanoma

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Abstract

Purpose

Temozolomide and fotemustine are both active drugs for treating metastatic melanoma. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with temozolomide + fotemustine in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Methods

Forty patients (median age 50.5 and 22 males) with pathologically confirmed, unresectable, AJCO stage IV melanoma were enrolled into the study. The primary endpoints were tumor response and safety. Patients received oral temozolomide 125 mg/m2 on days 1–7 and intravenous fotemustine 80 mg/m2 on day 3 every 3 weeks.

Results

Fourteen (35%) patients achieved an objective response, including 3 (7.5%) complete and 11 (27.5%) partial responses. Median overall survival time was 6.7 months and 6-month survival rate was 57.4%. Myelosupression, particularly thrombocytopenia, was the primary toxicity.

Conclusion

The regimen, temozolomide combined with fotemustine, is an active and moderately safe first-line chemotherapy regimen with acceptable and easily manageable toxicities in patients with metastatic melanoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oncology, Istanbul University, Capa, 34390, Istanbul, Turkey

    Faruk Tas, Hakan Camlica & Erkan Topuz

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  1. Faruk Tas
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  2. Hakan Camlica
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  3. Erkan Topuz
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Correspondence to Faruk Tas.

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Tas, F., Camlica, H. & Topuz, E. Temozolomide in combination with fotemustine in patients with metastatic melanoma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 62, 293–298 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-007-0606-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-007-0606-5

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