Current Status of Melanoma Treatment with Interferon, Cytokines and Other Biologic Response Modifiers in Japan

Abstract

This paper introduces the current status of melanoma treatment with various biologic response modifiers (BRMs) in Japan, with an emphasis on the clinical results of Interferon therapies. The authors also refer briefly to the current situation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in Japan. Many BRMs have been used in treatment of melanoma, e.g., IFN, IL-2, TNFs, BCG, MY-1 (DNA extracted from BCG), WPG (CWs of Bifidobacterium infantis, ATCC 15697), OK-432 (Picibanil, Streptococcus pyogenes preparation), bestatin, and forphenicinol. Some of these have completed clinical trials, while others are still undergoing clinical testing. Among IFN-alpha, beta, and gamma, intralesional administration of natural IFN-beta was found to be more effective than IFN-alpha for metastatic skin melanoma, the survival time of patients being prolonged by the administration of IFN-beta. IFN-gamma appeared to have lower efficacy than IFN-alpha and beta. The frequency of BRM application to melanoma treatment will increase. The authors foresee that combinations with radio- and/or other chemotherapy will be more common than the single use of a BRM, especially in the case of IFN.