Prevention of early recurrence of high risk malignant melanoma by coumarin. Irish Melanoma Group.
Coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) as a daily oral dose of 50 mg was evaluated in a multicentre prospectively randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to prevent early recurrence of malignant melanoma TNM Stage IB (Breslow thickness greater than 1.70 mm) and Stage II. Intake for the trial started in 1984 and was stopped prematurely, after review, in 1987. There were two recurrences in 13 treated patients and 10 in 14 controls which was significant (P 0.01). The sites of the metastases differed in each group, being local and in bone in the treated group, and in lymph nodes, skin and lung in the control group. There were no toxic effects associated with coumarin treatment and all patients without recurrence are now receiving coumarin.
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