Biochemotherapy with thymosin alpha 1, interleukin-2 and dacarbazine in patients with metastatic melanoma: clinical and immunological effects.

Lopez M, Carpano S, Cavaliere R, Di Lauro L, Ameglio F, Vitelli G, Frasca AM, Vici P, Pignatti F, Rosselli M

Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology1 Oct 1994Cited by 26 (Europe PMC)

PMID7826907DOI10.1093/oxfordjournals.annonc.a058979PepBankPUB-07826907

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone9

In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

01HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with metastatic melanoma, a regimen of DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2 gave objective responses in 36% of evaluable patients.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma, a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1 shrank tumors in 36% of evaluable patients.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableObjective response rate
Study
n = 42
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Measurements
Objective response rate
36%
evaluable patients
Source sentences
Summary
Objective responses were obtained in 15 (36%) of 42 evaluable patients (CI at 95%: 22%-50%).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690701
02HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with metastatic melanoma, a regimen of DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2 gave complete responses in two patients.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma, a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1 led to complete responses in two patients.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableComplete response
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
Two patients experienced complete responses
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690702
03HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with metastatic melanoma, stable disease occurred in five patients given a regimen of DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma, five patients on a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1 had stable disease.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableStable disease
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Source sentences
Summary
stable disease was observed in five.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690703
04HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with metastatic melanoma given DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2, the median time to progression was 5.5 months.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma on a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1, the cancer took a median of 5.5 months to progress.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableMedian time to progression
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Tumor growth · Cancer
Measurements
Median time to progression
5.5 months
Source sentences
Summary
The median time to progression was 5.5 months
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690704
05HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In patients with metastatic melanoma given DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2, the median survival was 11 months.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma on a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1, median survival was 11 months.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableMedian survival
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Mortality · Cancer
Measurements
Median survival
11 months
Source sentences
Summary
median survival was 11 months.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690705
06HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialSafety outcome
In patients given DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2, side effects were mostly caused by interleukin-2.
In plain wordsIn people given a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1, most side effects came from interleukin-2.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableSource of side effects
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
Side effects were predominantly caused by IL-2.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690706
07HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialSafety outcome
In patients given DTIC, thymosin alpha‑1 and interleukin-2, treatment was tolerated reasonably well with no overlapping toxicity between chemotherapy and biotherapy.
In plain wordsPeople given a three-drug regimen that included thymosin alpha‑1 tolerated it reasonably well, with no added toxicity between the two kinds of treatment.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
No significant changeTolerability and overlapping toxicity
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment was tolerated reasonably well, and there was no overlapping toxicity or interference between chemotherapy and biotherapy.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690707
08HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialOther
In patients with metastatic melanoma, baseline soluble CD4 levels seemed to correlate with tumor burden.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma, soluble CD4 levels at the start seemed to track with how much tumor they had.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicableBaseline sCD4 versus tumor burden
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Baseline sCD4 levels seem to correlate to tumor burden.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690708
09HumanNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneNon-randomized trialOther
In patients with metastatic melanoma, patients who benefited from the regimen had lower sCD4 and higher sCD8 than progressing patients.
In plain wordsIn people with advanced melanoma, those who benefited from the regimen had lower soluble CD4 and higher soluble CD8 than those whose disease progressed.
Peptide
Thymosin alpha-1
Outcome
Not applicablesCD4 and sCD8 in responders versus progressing patients
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Progressing patients
Outcome group
Immune response · Immune and inflammation
Source sentences
Summary
Patients benefiting from treatment had lower sCD4 and higher sCD8 than did progressing patients.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six patients with measurable metastatic melanoma were treated with DTIC 850 mg IV on day 1, TA1 2 mg s.c. on days 4 to 7, and IL-2 18 MU/m2/d by continuous intravenous infusion on days 8 to 12.
In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.
Report a problemFND-0782690709

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 3Current
10 Oct 2026, 08:55 UTC
Study results updated
Version 2
9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC
Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:02 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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