Management of extremity recurrences after complete responses to isolated limb perfusion in patients with melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Despite high rates of complete responses (CRs) to isolated limb perfusion (ILP) for patients with in-transit melanoma (60% to 90%), extremity recurrences are common. We evaluated our experience with managing these recurrences to determine how best to treat these patients.


METHODS
Between April 1992 and April 1998, 72 patients experienced CRs after hyperthermic ILP using Melphalan, with (n = 46) or without (n = 26) tumor necrosis factor. Of these, 25 patients (35%) experienced initial recurrences in the extremities, and they form the basis of this study.


RESULTS
Three patients who underwent repeat ILP for treatment of their recurrences experienced a second CR and recurrence in the extremity (at 9, 15, and 16 months), allowing analysis of 28 cases. For 5 of 20 recurrences managed with excision, 2 of 6 managed with repeat ILP, and 0 of 2 managed with systemic treatment, the patient was free of disease at the last follow-up examination (median follow-up period, 11 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Isolated extremity recurrences after CRs to ILP occurred in 35% of patients. Initially, these could be managed successfully by excision or repeat ILP for the majority of patients (92%). We recommend excision of small-volume recurrent disease, reserving repeat ILP for patients with increasing numbers of lesions or increasing rapidity of in-field recurrences.
Feldman
A L
AL
Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Alexander
H R
HR
Bartlett
D L
DL
Fraker
D L
DL
Libutti
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019233:Retreatment; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008558:Melphalan