Differences in nativity, age and gender may impact health behavior and perspectives among Asian Indians.

Objective: Identify health perspectives among Asian Indians in greater Houston area, to guide a tailored community wide survey.

Design: Four focus groups of different ages, gender, and nativity were conducted at which participants were asked for their opinions about specific health topics. Key informant interviews were conducted with ten community leaders to validate focus group responses.

A randomized phase III trial of biochemotherapy versus interferon-alpha-2b for adjuvant therapy in patients at high risk for melanoma recurrence.

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical benefit of biochemotherapy and interferon-alpha-2b (IFN) as adjuvant therapy. Biochemotherapy has higher response rates than other regimens in patients with metastatic melanoma. We conducted a randomized phase III study comparing the clinical benefit of biochemotherapy and IFN as adjuvant therapy.

A phase II open-label trial of apomine (SR-45023A) in patients with refractory melanoma.

Metastatic melanoma continues to be a very difficult disease to treat. Options are limited and often have very little impact on the course of the disease. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of continuously administered Apomine (SR-45023A), a novel bisphosphonate, in patients with previously treated metastatic malignant melanoma.

Phase II study of thalidomide in patients with metastatic melanoma.

The aim of this study was to determine the antitumour activity and toxicity of thalidomide in patients with metastatic melanoma. Between July 1999 and July 2001, 20 patients with metastatic melanoma were enrolled into this study. Patients were required to have progressive disease following standard therapies (unless there was a known contraindication for their usage) and to be free from symptomatic brain metastases.

Phase I trial of subcutaneous recombinant human interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Background: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has activity in metastatic melanoma when given in high doses by the intravenous (IV) route, but its side effects and effectiveness when given in intermediate to high doses by the subcutaneous (SC) route have not been studied adequately. This study sought to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of IL-2 administered once daily by the SC route.

Methods: Outpatients with progressive metastatic melanoma after chemotherapy were enrolled in a Phase I trial of IL-2 administered SC daily for 5 days per week for 4 consecutive weeks, repeated at 6-week intervals.

Sequential biochemotherapy versus chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma: results from a phase III randomized trial.

Purpose: The addition of cytokines to chemotherapy has produced encouraging results in advanced melanoma. In this phase III trial, we compared the effects of chemotherapy (cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine [CVD]) with those of sequential biochemotherapy consisting of CVD plus interleukin-2 and interferon alfa-2b.

Patients And Methods: Metastatic melanoma patients who had not previously received chemotherapy were stratified by prognostic factors and given chemotherapy or biochemotherapy.