Clinical Response and Regional Toxicity Following Isolated Limb Infusion Compared with Isolated Limb Perfusion for In-Transit Melanoma

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) and infusion (ILI) are therapeutic modalities for the treatment of in transit melanoma. A retrospective review of all patients undergoing first-time ILI or ILP for in-transit melanoma metastases between 2007 and 2015 was performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics included age, sex, nodal status at the time of ILI/ILP (N-stage), and burden of disease (BOD). Regional toxicity was categorized by the Wieberdink classification. Clinical response was evaluated at 3 months after treatment. A total of 203 patients were reviewed (ILI = 94, ILP = 109). There were no differences in age, sex, or N-stage between groups; however, BOD was higher for the ILI group (high BOD 58 vs. 44 %, p = 0.04). Regional toxicity was minimal (Grade IV < 1 % in ILI and 2 % in ILP, p = 0.40). Overall response rate (ORR) was 53 % for ILI versus 80 % for ILP (p < 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was 46 months for ILI versus 40 months for ILP (p = 0.31). A high BOD [hazard ratio (HR) 3.02, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.85-4.93, p < 0.001] and N3 disease (HR 1.58, 95 % CI 1.01-2.48, p = 0.04) were associated with worse OS, whereas there was no difference in OS by procedure (p = 0.20). ILP offers an improved ORR, but this does not translate into improved local PFS or OS. Both procedures are well tolerated with minimal regional toxicity.