COVID-19 Update: IL-2 Treatment Center Access
Metastatic Melanoma
home-icon >
Resources > FAQs

We want to answer your questions

What is melanoma?
What causes melanoma?
What is metastatic melanoma?
Are there different stages of melanoma?
Can metastatic melanoma be treated?
Can metastatic melanoma be cured?
What is Proleukin?
How does Proleukin work?
How might Proleukin help?
How is Proleukin administered?
Are side effects severe with Proleukin?
How can I learn more about melanoma?
Back to top Back to top
What is melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of cancer that is also called skin cancer. It starts in pigment cells (called melanocytes) that are most commonly found in the skin. Melanoma can develop at any location on a person’s body.

Back to top Back to top
What causes melanoma?

The exact cause of melanoma is not known. For many people, melanoma has been linked to sun exposure (also known as ultra violet light) and/or tanning beds. Some other known risk factors for melanoma include having:

  • Fair skin that tends to burn and/or freckle
  • Light hair and eyes
  • One or more blistering sunburns
  • Many moles and/or abnormal moles
  • A family history of melanoma
Back to top Back to top
What is metastatic melanoma?

Metastatic melanoma occurs when cancer spreads from where it originally started to other parts of the body.

Back to top Back to top
Are there different stages of melanoma?

Yes, there are 5 stages of melanoma (stage 0 to stage 4). Regional metastatic melanoma is classified as stage 3 (cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or lymph vessels near the initial tumor). Distant metastatic melanoma is classified as stage 4 (cancer that has spread to other organs and body areas far away from the initial tumor).

Back to top Back to top
Can metastatic melanoma be treated?

Yes. There are several different treatments for metastatic melanoma. Your doctor/oncologist will tell you if you may be a candidate for:
• Immunotherapy, such as Proleukin
• Targeted therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
You can also ask your oncologist if there is a possibility of enrolling in a clinical study for a new treatment.

Back to top Back to top
Can metastatic melanoma be cured?

Some treatments may help slow or stop the progression of cancer for a while. Proleukin is one of those therapies. After Proleukin treatment, some people’s tumors completely disappeared and did not return (called a durable complete response).*

Back to top Back to top
What is Proleukin?

Proleukin (aldesleukin) is a synthetic protein that is very similar to natural IL-2, an important protein that your body produces. IL-2 activates certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes) to help your immune system fight against diseases and infections. Learn more.

Back to top Back to top
How does Proleukin work?

Proleukin stimulates the immune system by encouraging the growth of certain types of cells in the immune system that attack and kill cancer cells. Learn more.

Back to top Back to top
How might Proleukin help?

Some people with metastatic melanoma have had their cancer tumors completely disappear for over 10 years after treatment with Proleukin.*

Back to top Back to top
How is Proleukin administered?

Proleukin is administered by intravenous infusion at a specialized IL-2 Treatment Center. Usually, you’ll receive two 5-day treatment cycles (constituting 1 course of therapy) with Proleukin, with 9 days of rest in between. During each 5-day treatment cycle, Proleukin is typically provided once every 8 hours. If Proleukin is working against your cancer after just 1 course, your oncologist may—or may not—suggest 1 or 2 more courses.

Back to top Back to top
Are side effects severe with Proleukin?

Not always. Everyone is different. Fortunately, side effects can be managed by a team of experts at the IL-2 Treatment Center. And most side effects should subside a few days after treatment with Proleukin. Please see full Prescribing Information for a complete list of side effects.

Back to top Back to top
How can I learn more about melanoma?

If you have any medical questions, talk to your oncologist. You can also access many helpful resources here.

*In 6% of patients (17/270), tumors completely disappeared (called durable complete response). In 10% (26/270) of patients, tumors shrank (called partial response).

If you have additional questions about Proleukin, call the Proleukin Patient Support Hotline at 877-PROLEUKIN (776-5385).
EXPAND +

Proleukin® (aldesleukin) is indicated for the treatment of adults with metastatic melanoma (mM) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Summary of Important Safety Information for Proleukin® (aldesleukin) for injection, for intravenous infusion.

Proleukin® (aldesleukin) is indicated for the treatment of adults with metastatic melanoma (mM) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Summary of Important Safety Information for Proleukin® (aldesleukin) for injection, for intravenous infusion.

WARNINGS

Therapy with Proleukin® (aldesleukin) should be restricted to patients with normal cardiac and pulmonary functions as defined by thallium stress testing and formal pulmonary function testing. Extreme caution should be used in patients with a normal thallium stress test and a normal pulmonary function test who have a history of cardiac or pulmonary disease.

Proleukin should be administered in a hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of anticancer agents. An intensive care facility and specialists skilled in cardiopulmonary or intensive care medicine must be available.

Proleukin administration has been associated with capillary leak syndrome (CLS) which is characterized by a loss of vascular tone and extravasation of plasma proteins and fluid into the extravascular space. CLS results in hypotension and reduced organ perfusion which may be severe and can result in death. CLS may be associated with cardiac arrhythmias (supraventricular and ventricular), angina, myocardial infarction, respiratory insufficiency requiring intubation, gastrointestinal bleeding or infarction, renal insufficiency, edema, and mental status changes.

Proleukin treatment is associated with impaired neutrophil function (reduced chemotaxis) and with an increased risk of disseminated infection, including sepsis and bacterial endocarditis. Consequently, preexisting bacterial infections should be adequately treated prior to initiation of Proleukin therapy. Patients with indwelling central lines are particularly at risk for infection with gram positive microorganisms. Antibiotic prophylaxis with oxacillin, nafcillin, ciprofloxacin, or vancomycin has been associated with a reduced incidence of staphylococcal infections.

Proleukin administration should be withheld in patients developing moderate to severe lethargy or somnolence; continued administration may result in coma.

INDICATION AND USAGE

Proleukin® (aldesleukin) is indicated for the treatment of adults with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (metastatic RCC).

Proleukin is indicated for the treatment of adults with metastatic melanoma.

Careful patient selection is mandatory prior to the administration of Proleukin.

Evaluation of clinical studies to date reveals that patients with more favorable ECOG performance status (ECOG PS 0) at treatment initiation respond better to Proleukin, with a higher response rate and lower toxicity. Therefore, selection of patients for treatment should include assessment of performance status.

Experience in patients with ECOG PS > 1 is extremely limited.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Proleukin® (aldesleukin) is contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to interleukin-2 or any component of the Proleukin formulation.

Proleukin is contraindicated in patients with an abnormal thallium stress test or abnormal pulmonary function tests and those with organ allografts. Retreatment with Proleukin is contraindicated in patients who have experienced the following drug-related toxicities while receiving an earlier course of therapy: sustained ventricular tachycardia (≥ 5 beats), cardiac arrhythmias not controlled or unresponsive to management, chest pain with ECG changes, consistent with angina or myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, intubation for > 72 hours, renal failure requiring dialysis > 72 hours, coma or toxic psychosis lasting > 48 hours, repetitive or difficult to control seizures, bowel ischemia/perforation, GI bleeding requiring surgery.

WARNINGS

Because of the severe adverse events which generally accompany Proleukin® (aldesleukin) therapy at the recommended dosages, thorough clinical evaluation should be performed to identify patients with significant cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, or CNS impairment in whom Proleukin is contraindicated. Patients with normal cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, and CNS function may experience serious, life-threatening or fatal adverse events. Adverse events are frequent, often serious, and sometimes fatal.

Should adverse events, requiring dose modification occur, dosage should be withheld rather than reduced.

Proleukin has been associated with exacerbation of preexisting autoimmune disease and inflammatory disorders. In some cases, the onset of new autoimmune diseases, such as vitiligo, may occur. Symptomatic hyperglycemia and/or diabetes mellitus have been reported during Proleukin therapy.

All patients should have thorough evaluation and treatment of CNS metastases and have a negative scan prior to receiving Proleukin therapy. New neurologic signs, symptoms, and anatomic lesions following Proleukin therapy have been reported in patients without evidence of CNS metastases. Neurologic signs and symptoms associated with Proleukin therapy usually improve after discontinuation of Proleukin therapy; however, there are reports of permanent neurologic defects. In patients with known seizure disorders, extreme caution should be exercised as Proleukin may cause seizures.

PRECAUTIONS

Patients should have normal cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, and CNS function at the start of therapy. Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) begins immediately after Proleukin® (aldesleukin) treatment starts and is marked by increased capillary permeability to protein and fluids and reduced vascular tone.

Proleukin® (aldesleukin) treatment should be withheld for failure to maintain organ perfusion as demonstrated by altered mental status, reduced urine output, a fall in the systolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg or onset of cardiac arrhythmias.

Recovery from CLS begins soon after cessation of Proleukin therapy. Usually, within a few hours, the blood pressure rises, organ perfusion is restored and reabsorption of extravasated fluid and protein begins.

Kidney and liver function are impaired during Proleukin treatment. Use of concomitant nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic medications may further increase toxicity to the kidney or liver.

Mental status changes including irritability, confusion, or depression which occur while receiving Proleukin may be due to bacteremia or early bacterial sepsis, hypoperfusion, occult CNS malignancy, or direct Proleukin-induced CNS toxicity. Patients should be evaluated for these and other causes of mental status changes. Alterations in mental status due solely to Proleukin therapy may progress for several days before recovery begins. Rarely, patients have sustained permanent neurologic deficits.

Proleukin enhancement of cellular immune function may increase the risk of allograft rejection in transplant patients.

Serious manifestations of eosinophilia involving eosinophilic infiltration of cardiac and pulmonary tissues can occur following Proleukin.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The rate of drug-related deaths in the 255 metastatic RCC patients who received single-agent Proleukin® (aldesleukin) was 4% (11/255); the rate of drug-related deaths in the 270 metastatic melanoma patients who received single-agent Proleukin was 2% (6/270).

In clinical trials, the following life-threatening (Grade 4) adverse events were seen in > 1% of 525 patients (255 with metastatic renal cell cancer and 270 with metastatic melanoma) treated with Proleukin: oliguria (6%), anuria (5%), hypotension (3%), respiratory disorder (3%), bilirubinemia (2%), coma (2%), diarrhea (2%), acidosis (1%), acute kidney failure (1%), apnea (1%), cardiovascular disorder (1%), coagulation disorders (1%), confusion (1%), creatinine increase (1%), dyspnea (1%), fever (1%), heart arrest (1%), infection (1%), myocardial infarction (1%), psychosis (1%), sepsis (1%), SGOT increase (1%), stupor (1%), supraventricular tachycardia (1%), thrombocytopenia (1%), ventricular tachycardia (1%), and vomiting (1%). From the same trials, the following adverse events (Grades 1-4) were seen in ≥ 30% of 525 patients (255 with metastatic renal cell cancer and 270 with metastatic melanoma) treated with Proleukin: hypotension (71%), diarrhea (67%), oliguria (63%), chills (52%), vomiting (50%), dyspnea (43%), rash (42%), bilirubinemia (40%), thrombocytopenia (37%), nausea (35%), confusion (34%), and creatinine increase (33%).

Please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, for Proleukin® (aldesleukin) for injection, for intravenous infusion.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The content contained in this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice related to any topic discussed. Patients are urged to consult with their treating physicians or other professionals. Never disregard professional, medical, or legal advice or delay seeking such advice because of something you have read on this website.