High-Dose Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Stage II or StageIII Melanoma
High-Dose Interferon Alfa in Treating Patients With Stage II or StageIII Melanoma
This randomized phase III trial is studying high dose interferon alfa to see how well it
 works compared to observation only in treating patients with stage II or stage III melanoma
 that has been completely removed by surgery.
Interferon alfa may interfere with growth of cancer cells. It is not yet known whether
 treatment with interferon alfa is more effective than observation alone for stage II or stage
 III melanoma that has been completely removed surgically.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Histologically confirmed primary melanoma of cutaneous origin

 -  Stage II (T3 N0 M0 1.5-4.0mm Breslow depth

 -  Clinically negative regional lymph node pathologic status unkown OR

 -  Histologically negative regional lymph nodes

 -  Stage III (T4 N0 M0)

 -  Greater than 4.0mm Breslow depth OR

 -  Stage III (T1-4 N1)

 -  One lymph node positive microscopically

 -  Patients must meet at least 1 of the following criteria

 -  T2b N0 primary melanoma 1.01-2.0mm with ulceration, node negative

 -  T3a-b N0 primary melanoma 2.01-4.0mm with and without ulceration, node negative

 -  T4a-b N0 primary melanoma > 4.0mm with and without ulceration, node negative

 -  T1aN1a-2a (microscopic)-primary melanoma of any thickness with microscopically
 positive lymph node (any number)

 -  Note EORTC patients who are node negative T2 or T3 are ineligible

 -  Patients with positive sentinel node should undergo complete lymphadenectomy of the
 nodal basin prior to study

 -  Must complete all primary therapy (wide excision with or without lymphadenectomy) and
 be randomized in the study within 84 days of wide excision

 -  No clinical, radiological/laboratory, or pathological evidence of incompletely
 resected melanoma or any distant metastatic disease

 -  No clinically palpable lymphadenopathy

 Age:

 -  18 and over

 Performance Status:

 -  ECOG 0-1

 Life expectancy:

 -  Not specified Hematopoietic

 -  WBC at least 3,000/mm^3

 -  Platelet count at least 125,000/mm^3

 -  Hematocrit at least 30%

 Hepatic:

 -  Bilirubin no greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)

 -  AST, LDH, and Alkaline phosphate no greater than 2 times ULN

 -  If lactate dehydrogenase or alkaline phosphate is above normal, a contrast enhanced CT
 scan or MRI of the liver is required to document the absence of tumor

 Renal:

 -  BUN no greater than 33mg/dl OR

 -  Creatinine no greater than 1.8mg/dl

 Cardiovascular:

 -  No history of active ischemic heart disease

 -  No cerebrovascular disease

 -  No congestive heart failure(New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Biologic Therapy:

 -  No prior immunotherapy including tumor vaccines, interferon, interleukins,levamisole,
 or other biologic response modifers for melanoma Chemotherapy

 -  No prior or concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine Therapy

 -  No concurrent systemic corticosteriods including oral steriods (i.e., prednisone,
 dexamethasone), topical steroid creams or ointments, or any steriod-containing
 inhalers.

 Radiotherapy:

 -  No Prior or concurrent radiotherapy

 Surgery:

 -  See Disease characteristics

 Other:

 -  No other concurrent immunosuppressive medications

 -  No other history of invasive melanoma

 -  No autoimmune disorders or conditions of immunosuppression

 -  No other concurrent or prior malignancies within past 5 years

 -  Cancer in situ

 -  Lobular carcinoma in situ of breast

 -  Carcinoma in situ of the cervix

 -  Atypical melanocytic hyperplasia or Clark 1 melanoma in situ

 -  Basal or squamous cell skin cancer

 -  No evidence of organic brain syndrome or significant impairment of basal cognitive
 function or any psychiatric disorder that would preclude study participation

 -  No other significant medical or surgical condition, or any medication or treatment
 regimens, that would interfere with study participation.

 -  Not pregnant or nursing

 -  Negative pregnancy test

 -  Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study