ABSTRACT
The combination of carmustine, cisplatin, dacarbazine, interferon, and low-dose tamoxifen is widely used in treating metastatic melanoma and was originally reported to achieve a 20% complete response rate. Among 29 patients who completed the authors' phase II study with the regimen, five (17%) achieved complete remission, and the median duration of response was 8 months (range, 2-14 months). The aim of the study was to evaluate briefly the value and toxicity of this regimen in treating metastatic malignant melanoma.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Melanoma/drug therapy , Melanoma/secondary , Carmustine/administration & dosage , Cisplatin/administration & dosage , Dacarbazine/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , Interferon-alpha/administration & dosage , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Remission Induction , Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Tamoxifen/administration & dosageABSTRACT
Chemotherapy-induced spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) has been described sporadically in chemosensitive tumors, particularly sarcoma, with multiple lung metastases. We present a patient who developed SP following rapid regression of bulky mediastinal lymphoma. Immediately on chest tube insertion, the lung recovered and further chemotherapy could be delivered uneventfully. We suggest that (1) chemotherapy-induced SP should be included amongst oncologic emergencies and that (2) a high degree of awareness of this complication is required.
