TY - JOUR
T1 - Adjuvant interferon-α for the treatment of high-risk melanoma
T2 - an individual patient data meta-analysis
AU - International Melanoma Meta-Analysis Collaborative Group (IMMCG)
AU - Ives, Natalie
AU - Suciu, Stefan
AU - Eggermont, Alexander M.
AU - Kirkwood, John M.
AU - Lorigan, Paul
AU - Markovic, Svetomir
AU - Garbe, Claus
AU - Wheatley, Keith
PY - 2017/9
Y1 - 2017/9
N2 - Background: Many randomised trials assessing interferon-α (IFN α) as adjuvant therapy for high-risk malignant melanoma have been undertaken. To better assess the role of IFN α, an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of these trials was undertaken.MethodsIPD was sought from all randomised trials of adjuvant IFN α versus no IFN α for high-risk melanoma. Primary outcomes were event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Standard methods for quantitative IPD meta-analysis were used. Subgroup analyses by dose, duration of treatment, and various patient and disease-specific parameters were performed.Findings: Fifteen trials were included in the analysis (eleven with IPD). EFS was significantly improved with IFN α (Hazard Ratio (HR)=0·86, CI 0·81-0·91; P<0·00001), as was OS (HR=0·90, CI 0·85-0·97; P=0·003). The absolute differences in EFS at five and ten years were 3·5% and 2·7%, and for OS were 3·0% and 2·8% respectively in favour of IFN α. There was no evidence that the benefit of IFN-α differed depending on dose or duration of treatment, or by age, gender, site of primary tumour, disease stage, Breslow thickness, or presence of clinical nodes. Only for ulceration was there evidence of an interaction (test for heterogeneity: P=0·04 for EFS; P=0·002 for OS); only patients with ulcerated tumours appeared to obtain benefit from IFN α.Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides clear evidence that adjuvant IFN α significantly reduces the risk of relapse and improves survival, and shows no benefit for higher doses. The increased benefit in patients with ulcerated tumours, and lack of benefit in patients without ulceration, needs further investigation.Key Words: Individual patient data meta-analysis; randomised controlled trials; melanoma; adjuvant interferon.
AB - Background: Many randomised trials assessing interferon-α (IFN α) as adjuvant therapy for high-risk malignant melanoma have been undertaken. To better assess the role of IFN α, an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of these trials was undertaken.MethodsIPD was sought from all randomised trials of adjuvant IFN α versus no IFN α for high-risk melanoma. Primary outcomes were event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Standard methods for quantitative IPD meta-analysis were used. Subgroup analyses by dose, duration of treatment, and various patient and disease-specific parameters were performed.Findings: Fifteen trials were included in the analysis (eleven with IPD). EFS was significantly improved with IFN α (Hazard Ratio (HR)=0·86, CI 0·81-0·91; P<0·00001), as was OS (HR=0·90, CI 0·85-0·97; P=0·003). The absolute differences in EFS at five and ten years were 3·5% and 2·7%, and for OS were 3·0% and 2·8% respectively in favour of IFN α. There was no evidence that the benefit of IFN-α differed depending on dose or duration of treatment, or by age, gender, site of primary tumour, disease stage, Breslow thickness, or presence of clinical nodes. Only for ulceration was there evidence of an interaction (test for heterogeneity: P=0·04 for EFS; P=0·002 for OS); only patients with ulcerated tumours appeared to obtain benefit from IFN α.Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides clear evidence that adjuvant IFN α significantly reduces the risk of relapse and improves survival, and shows no benefit for higher doses. The increased benefit in patients with ulcerated tumours, and lack of benefit in patients without ulceration, needs further investigation.Key Words: Individual patient data meta-analysis; randomised controlled trials; melanoma; adjuvant interferon.
KW - Individual patient data meta-analysis
KW - randomised controlled trials
KW - melanoma
KW - adjuvant interferon
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.06.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.06.006
M3 - Article
SN - 0959-8049
VL - 82
SP - 171
EP - 183
JO - European Journal of Cancer
JF - European Journal of Cancer
ER -