Onkologie. 2009:3(4):235-241

Sorafenib in the treatment of generalized malignant melanoma: An overview of clinical trials

MUDr. Josef Dvořák

Klinika onkologie a radioterapie FN a LF UK Hradec Králové

The current therapeutic options for generalized melanoma are very limited. The current standard treatment of stage IV melanoma is

palliative cytostatic chemotherapy, complemented by immunotherapy and/or palliative radiotherapy in individual cases. The median

survival of patients with generalized melanoma ranges between 6 and 10 months. Patients with generalized melanoma should be

offered participation in clinical trials. This paper presents an overview of the clinical trials of sorafenib in the treatment of generalized

melanoma. Sorafenib showed a statistically significant improvement in survival in randomized phase III clinical trials in the treatment of

advanced renal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma where it became a part of standard treatment*. Sorafenib is well tolerated in the

treatment of generalized melanoma; however, it exhibits low efficacy when used as monotherapy. A higher efficacy, with acceptable

adverse effects, is achieved with a combination of sorafenib and other drugs. A randomized phase III clinical trial is required to finally

determine whether sorafenib can demonstrate sufficient efficacy in the treatment of generalized melanoma.

Keywords: sorafenib, generalized malignant melanoma, targeted treatment clinical studies.

Published: November 1, 2009  Show citation