Phase I evaluation of DTIC (NSC-45388) and other studies in malignant melanoma in the Central Oncology Group.

The major toxic effects of DTIC are nausea and vomiting, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. It is an effective drug in the treatment of malignant melanoma with better response rates in women than in men. The addition of other drugs to DTIC therapy does not produce a higher response rate. Preliminary results indicate that as an adjuvant to standard surgical therapy DTIC does not appear beneficial to patients with a high risk for recurrence.