Aims: To analyse results with a standardized HILP procedure in terms of response rate, recurrence pattern and complication rate.
Patients and methods: From 1992 to 2003 HILP with melphalan and dactinomycin was performed in 101 patients with loco-regional metastases of malignant melanoma of the limbs. Among these were 66 women and 35 men with a median age of 62 years. Forty patients were in M. D. Anderson stage IIIA, 51 patients in stage IIIAB and 9 had stage IV disease at the time of perfusion. If not been done before, regional lymph node dissection preceded limb perfusion in the same setting.
Results: A complete response (CR) was observed in 58 out of 87 evaluable patients. Twenty-one patients achieved a partial response (PR) and eight patients were non-responders. The overall response rate was 90.8%. The median recurrence-free interval after CR was 21 months. Severe toxicity (Wieberdink IV/V) was observed in five patients necessitating fasciotomy in four of them and above knee amputation in one patient. All further cases presented with grade II-III toxicity. The overall survival was 42 months, with a 5-year survival rate of 38%. Survival significantly differed according to stage of disease.
Conclusion: HILP is an effective treatment for loco-regional tumour relapse of malignant melanoma of the extremities and has improved by modification of technique. In the absence of regional lymph node and distant metastases long-term survival can be achieved in responders.