Isolated Hyperthermic Chemotherapy Perfusion for Limb Melanoma Is a Safe Procedure

The study evaluated the safety and efficacy of isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with melphalan in 56 patients with limb melanoma. It found a high tumor response rate of 92%, with 31 complete and 17 partial responses. Bone marrow depression occurred in 59% of patients, with varying severity, and was negatively correlated with systemic leakage. Common side effects included nausea and vomiting (82%), fever (31%), and scalp hair loss (4%). The 5-year survival rate was 49% for therapeutic and 100% for prophylactic perfusion. The study concluded that ILP was a suitable treatment for in-transit metastases confined to a limb, with manageable systemic toxicity.