The palliative value of tumor necrosis factor alpha-based isolated limb perfusion in patients with metastatic sarcoma and melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Both patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and patients with melanoma have limited treatment possibilities once the tumor has metastasized systemically. In patients with extremity STS or bulky melanoma in-transit metastases, the local tumor burden may be so problematic that, even in patients with systemically metastasized disease, an amputation may be inevitable. Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) has proven to be an excellent, local, limb-saving treatment option in patients with locally advanced extremity tumors. In this study, the authors investigated the palliative value of the ILP procedure to avoid amputation in patients who had Stage IV STS and melanoma.


METHODS
From 1991 to 2003, of 339 tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-based ILPs, 51 procedures were performed for either Stage IV STS (n = 37 patients) or Stage IV melanoma (n = 14 patients). All patients underwent an ILP with TNF and melphalan of the upper limb (n = 4 patients) or the lower limb (n = 47 patients) with 26-140 mg melphalan and 2-4 mg TNF.


RESULTS
The overall response in patients with Stage IV STS was 84%, and their median survival was 12 months after ILP. Limb salvage was achieved in 36 of 37 patients, with 1 patient undergoing amputation due to treatment toxicity. In the patients with Stage IV melanoma, the complete response rate was 43%. All patients with melanoma preserved their limb during a median survival of 7 months.


CONCLUSIONS
TNF-based ILP is an excellent procedure that provided tumor control and limb salvage for the short survival of patients with metastasized, very bulky, limb-threatening tumors of the extremity.
Grunhagen
Dirk J
DJ
Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC-Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
de Wilt
Johannes H W
JH
Graveland
Wilfried J
WJ
van Geel
Albertus N
AN
Eggermont
Alexander M M
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001132:Arm; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008558:Melphalan