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Safety of pegylated interferon-alpha-2a in adjuvant therapy of melanoma

A retrospective analysis of toxicities associated with pegylated-interferon-alpha-2a (PEG-IFN-alpha2a) 180 ug/week s.c. was conducted in 18 patients with melanoma stage IIa-IIIc. A comparison was made with data from the literature for low dose IFN-alpha and high dose IFN. Myelosuppression (83%) and hepatotoxicity (78%) were the commonest side effects. PEG-IFN-alpha-2a patients had more myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity than low dose IFN-alpha patients (p≤0.008 and p≤0.001, respectively). Fatigue and depression were less prevalent with PEG-IFN-alpha-2a. Compared to patients treated with high dose IFN, PEG-IFN-alpha-2a patients had significantly less fatigue (p≤0.001), a trend towards less neutropenia (p≤0.068) and neuropsychiatric events (no significant difference). PEG-IFN-alpha-2a had more adverse events than low dose IFN-alpha but fewer than high dose ...