Sequential treatment of melanoma patients who progressed on interleukin-2 and dacarbazine by alpha-interferon and dacarbazine--a preliminary report.

alpha-Interferon, 3 x 10(6) U/m2 every other day, and dacarbazine, up to 800 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, were given to nine patients with metastatic malignant melanoma who had progressed on a combination of interleukin-2 and dacarbazine. Partial response was documented in two patients for 9 and 4 months. Responsive sites were the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, and skin. Failure to respond to one biologic response modifier does not predict the response to another modifier.