Adjuvant immunotherapy for melanoma

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Abstract
Adjuvant immunotherapy was administered to 84 lymph‐node‐negative and 25 lymph‐node‐positive melanoma patients. This active specific homologous cell protein preparation was given after aggressive surgery and given over 2 years. Projected and observed survival rates are presented as well as other clinical and pathologic characteristics such as female‐to‐male ratio, site of primary, level and depth of invasion. The projected 5‐year survival rates are 90% for all stage I with 89% for females and 94% for males. Lower extremity stage I projected 5‐year survival rate was 88% for all, 87% for females, and 100% for males. The projected 5‐year survival rate for stage II was 68% overall and 100% for lower extremity. Only two of five patients with an unknown primary have expired. All of these results are improved over expected survival. Hopefully a randomized prospective study will be stimulated to ascertain the basis for this improvement.