Melanoma that has spread to other areas of the body is a very difficult cancer to treat successfully. It usually does not respond well to chemotherapy. Sadly, those diagnosed with metastatic melanoma survive only about a year after diagnosis.
The combination of Taxol (paclitaxel) with carboplatin, added to an agent that prevents the growth of blood vessels called bevacizumab has been shown to significantly delay the spread of tumors in patients with advanced melanoma. A Phase II clinical trial showed that tumor growth was delayed by almost six months; typically these cancers begin to start spreading again in about eight weeks.
Dr. Domingo Perez, M.D., the lead author of the study says "The clinical benefit may seem small, but in the world of melanoma where there is very little progress, this is certainly a strong indication that the combination of chemotherapy with an antiangiogenic agent may be a valid treatment strategy for these patients."
1. my husband has stage 4 melanoma, digonsed jan 2006, had 8 mets to brain, and a few inside of his body, and 3 outside melanomas, had gamma knife and temodar only, as of 2 weeks ago, no signs of cancer, thats over a year, the drs. are so happy, things do work out
Posted at 4:19PM on Sep 25th 2007 by debbie