Isolated limb perfusion as a treatment option for rare types of tumours.
Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is an established and effective treatment for advanced melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities with a high overall response rate. The aim of this study was to describe our experience of ILP for more rare types of tumours.



Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) (n = 4), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 2), B-cell lymphoma (n = 1), desmoid tumours (n = 3), pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) (n = 1) and giant cell tumour (n = 1) were treated with ILP and analysed retrospectively.



The four patients with in-transit MCC had three complete responses (CR) and one partial response (PR); the two patients with SCC had one CR and one stable disease (SD); the patients with desmoid tumours had two PR and one SD. A CR was also observed for the patient with a giant cell tumour, but the patient with PVNS had a SD. The patient with cutaneous metastases of B-cell lymphoma showed a CR, however with rapid systemic progression. Local toxicity according to Wieberdink was grade II in 10 patients (83%) and grade III in two patients (17%).



These results show that ILP can be used as a treatment option also for more rare disease entities when other treatments have failed.
a Department of Surgery , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden ;|b Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC) , University of Genoa, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST University-Hospital , Genoa , Italy ;
Valerio
V
Belgrano
a Department of Surgery , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden ;
Ilan
I
Ben-Shabat
c Department of Orthopaedics , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
Peter
P
Bergh
a Department of Surgery , Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden ;
Roger
R
Olofsson Bagge
D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D005121:Extremities; D018222:Desmoid Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010477:Perfusion; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D013586:Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008558:Melphalan
Advanced status; isolated limb perfusion; local control; rare tumours