Isolated limb perfusion with melphalan and tumor necrosis factor alpha for advanced melanoma and soft-tissue sarcoma.

Background: Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with melphalan is used in the treatment of advanced in-transit melanoma but has no real efficacy for irresectable soft tissue sarcomas arising in the extremities. The addition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha may increase response rates for bulky melanoma and for sarcoma, but the potential for major systemic toxicity has limited its use.
Methods: Between October 2000 and April 2004, 49 ILPs were performed with melphalan and TNF-alpha. All procedures were performed with continuous leakage monitoring and regional hyperthermia.
Results: Forty-nine ILPs were performed for melanoma (n = 30), sarcoma (n = 16), or other tumors (n = 3). The most common indications were widespread in-transit disease for melanoma (n = 29) and irresectable primary disease for sarcoma (n = 9). Complete and partial responses for melanoma were 40% and 37%, and for sarcoma they were 20% and 33%. At a median follow-up of 14 months, 66% of melanoma patients who responded had not experienced local progression, compared with only 37% of sarcoma patients. Progression-free survival was significantly less for patients with sarcoma than melanoma (P = .0476). Four of 16 patients with sarcoma subsequently required amputation for progressive disease.
Conclusions: ILP with melphalan and TNF-alpha is a valuable treatment for advanced in-transit melanoma. Significant response rates were also seen in irresectable sarcoma, although the duration of response was limited.