title: Hyperthermic adjuvant perfusion chemotherapy for Stage I malignant melanoma of the extremity with literature review.
abstract: Thirty-nine patients with clinical Stage I malignant melanoma of the extremities were treated with hyperthermic perfusion chemotherapy using melphalan followed by excision or wide re-excision of the area and regional lymph node dissection. Four patients with positive lymph nodes, on histologic examination, were considered pathologic Stage II. Seventy-two patients with clinical Stage I extremity melanomas, who were treated by conventional surgical methods, served as concurrent controls, and were comparable in the distribution of their various pretreatment characteristics. The actuarial survivals for clinical Stage I perfusion patients calculated by the life-table method at 5, 10, and 15 years were 91%, 86%, and 77%, respectively, and disease-free survivals were 85%, 80%, and 80%, respectively. These figures were significantly better than controls. A Breslow depth of invasion of greater than 1.5 mm showed a significant difference in both clinical and pathologic Stage I disease as compared with the controls. Similarly, perfused patients aged less than or equal to 50 years survived significantly better than controls in both clinical and pathologic Stage I disease. The literature has been reviewed.
mesh_terms: D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D008558:Melphalan