SCH 54031 PEG12000 Interferon Alfa-2b (PEG Intron, MK-4031) vs. INTRON®A (SCH 30500, MK-2958) as Adjuvant Therapy for Melanoma (C98-135, MK-4031-002)

This is a Phase II/III randomized, controlled, multicenter, open-label study designed to assess the safety, efficacy, and impact on quality of life of PEG Intron (MK-4031) and INTRON® A (MK-2958) and the pharmacokinetics of PEG Intron when given as adjuvant (after surgery) therapy in participants with resected (surgically removed) Stage III node-positive cutaneous melanoma.

This study was closed to enrollment prematurely due to sub-optimal accrual. Participants who were enrolled prior to enrollment closure were allowed to continue to receive study drug; these participants were followed for safety only.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must have histologically documented primary cutaneous melanoma meeting one of the following staging criteria:

  * Primary melanoma of any stage in the presence of N1 regional lymph node metastases detected at elective lymph node dissection or sentinel node biopsy, with clinically inapparent regional lymph node metastasis (any pTN1M0).
  * Clinically apparent N1 or N2a regional lymph node involvement synchronous with primary melanoma of T1-4 (any pTN1-2aM0).
  * Regional lymph node recurrence at any interval after appropriate surgery for primary melanoma of any depth (any primary tumor \[pT\], r N1-2a M0).
* Participants must have had all known disease completely resected with adequate surgical margins within 56 days prior to randomization into the study
* Participants must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1
* Participants must have adequate hepatic, renal and bone marrow function as defined by the following parameters obtained within 14 days prior to initiation of study treatment:

  * Hematology: white blood cells (WBC) ≥3,000 cells/µL and hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL.
  * Renal and hepatic function: serum creatinine \<2.0 mg/dL; aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT) \<2 times upper limit of laboratory normal (ULN); and serum bilirubin \<2 times ULN
* Participants must sign and date a voluntary informed consent form before study entry, be willing to participate in this study and agree to complete all follow-up assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants who have received any prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy hormonal or radiation therapy for melanoma.
* Participants who have evidence of distant or non-regional lymph node metastases, in-transit metastases, or positive lymph nodes with an unknown primary.
* Participants whose disease cannot be completely surgically resected because of gross extracapsular extension.
* Participants who have previously received interferon for any reason.
* Participants who have severe cardiovascular disease, i.e., arrhythmias requiring chronic treatment, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] Class III or IV) or symptomatic ischemic heart disease.
* Participants who have a history of neuropsychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization.
* Participants with thyroid dysfunction not responsive to therapy.
* Participants with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
* Participants with a history of prior malignancy within the past 5 years other than surgically cured non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical carcinoma in situ.
* Participants who have a history of seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
* Participants who are pregnant, lactating, or of reproductive potential and not practicing an effective means of contraception.
* Participants with active and/or uncontrolled infection, including active hepatitis.
* Participants with a medical condition requiring chronic systemic corticosteroids.
* Participants who are known to be actively abusing alcohol or drugs.
* Participants who have received any experimental therapy within 30 days prior to randomization in this study.
* Participants who have not recovered from the effects of recent surgery.