15. Mainzer Allergie-Workshop 2003

High dose inhalation interleukin-2 therapy for lung metastases in patients with malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND The lungs are a frequent site of metastasis in patients with melanoma, and this may cause respiratory problems in the terminal phase of the illness. Inhalation interleukin (IL)-2 therapy to the lung has been piloted and appears to be well tolerated. METHODS Twenty-seven patients were treated with single agent dacarbazine and concurrent high dose inhalation IL-2 36 million IU per day). The patients previously had progressed on chemotherapy, predominately dacarbazine-based regimens. Patients included those with American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage IV melanoma, predominately those with lung metastases, but patients with extrapulmonary metastases also were allowed on the study. R…