Combined chemoimmunotherapy in metastatic melanoma--is there a need for the double?

The therapeutic benefit of adding immunotherapeutic agents such as interferon (IFN)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-2 to established single-agent or combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of metastatic melanoma has not been proven. On the contrary, recent studies indicate a significantly higher incidence of severe toxic side effects in patients treated with combined biochemotherapy. This article summarizes recent trials using either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy plus the administration of IFN-alpha and/or IL-2 to evaluate the benefit of a combined biochemotherapy.