A proper sequence for the treatment of B16 melanoma: chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy.

The therapeutic effectiveness of surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy alone and in combination were studied in the B16 melanoma model. The sequence of chemotherapy and immunotherapy as adjuvants to surgery proved important: Chemotherapy was significantly better when given before surgery; immunotherapy was more effective when delivered after surgery. The most effective therapeutic regimen was a combination of all three modalities: a single course of chemotherapy preceding surgery followed by immunotherapy.