Standard High-Dose Alpha Interferon Versus Intermittent High-Dose Alpha Interferon

Inclusion Criteria: * Histological documentet cutaneous malognant melanoma * Stage IIIa, IIIb, IIIc (AJCC 2002) * R0 resection dating back no longer than 56 days * Performance status (ECOG o-1) * Bone marrow funktion: White cell count \> 3000 cells/ul, platletts \> 100000 cells/ul, hemoglobin \> 10 g/dl * Liver and kidney funktion: Serum creatinin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal, AST and ALT \< 2.5 times upper limit of normal, Serum bilirubin \< 2 times upper limit of normal * Written inform consent Exclusion Criteria: * Confirmed distant metastasis * Choroid or mucosal melanoma * Pregnant or lactating women and women of childbearing potential not using a reliable form of contraception * Active autoimmun disease * patients with history of neuropsychiatric disease requiring hospitalization * Severe medical condition such us: * Florid hepatitis * Severe acute infection * Myocardial infarction within the past year,symptomatic angina pectoris * Grade III to IV congestive heart failure * serious pulmonary disease * HIV-positive patients with an AIDS - defining condition * treatment in another clinical drug trial within the last 30 days * A history of hypersensitivity to interferon alfa * History of maignant disease during the past 5 years (except for curatively treated skin carcinoma or in situ carcinoma) * Prior high dose interferon alfa therapy.Prior adjuvant low dose or intermediate-dose interferon alfa therapy is allowed