Interferon is associated with improved survival for node-positive cutaneous melanoma: a single-institution experience

Aim: We assessed the role of adjuvant interferon on relapse-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) in node-positive melanoma patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 385 node-positive patients without distant metastatic disease treated from 1998 to 2015. The surgery was therapeutic lymph node dissection (LND, n = 86) or sentinel lymph node biopsy ± completion LND (n = 270). 128 patients (33.2%) received adjuvant interferon. Results: After a median follow-up of 70 months, interferon was associated with improved RFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.55; p