Chemotherapy of disseminated malignant melanoma with imidazol carboxamide (DTIC) and cyclophosphamide. Preliminary results.

Forty three patients with disseminated malignant melanoma were treated by combination chemotherapy with DTIC (800 mg/m2) and subsequent peroral cyclophosphamide (100 mg/m2) for 14 days. Overall response was observed in 18/43 (42%), and complete response in 9/43 (21%) cases. Complete response was achieved mainly in patients with metastatic involvement of lungs. Mean survival from onset of treatment for responding patients was significantly longer than mean survival of nonresponders (15 versus 5 months, respectively). Serious complications were not noted.