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Australian multi‐center experience outside of the Sydney Melanoma Unit of isolated limb infusion chemotherapy for melanoma
Author(s) -
Coventry Brendon J.,
Kroon Hidde M.,
Giles Mitchell H.,
Henderson Michael,
Speakman David,
Wall Mark,
Barbour Andrew,
Serpell Jonathan,
Paddle Paul,
Coventry Alexander G.J.,
Sullivan Thomas,
Smithers B. Mark
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.23590
Subject(s) - medicine , breslow thickness , melanoma , melphalan , chemotherapy , univariate analysis , surgery , toxicity , multivariate analysis , cancer , breast cancer , sentinel lymph node , cancer research
ABSTRACT Introduction Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a minimally invasive alternative to isolated limb perfusion (ILP) for delivering high‐dose regional chemotherapy to treat locally advanced limb melanoma. The current study aimed to evaluate the applicability of ILI in four Australian tertiary referral centers outside of its originating institution, the Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU; currently known as the Melanoma Institute Australia). Methods Data of 131 patients, treated between 1992 and 2008 were collectively analyzed. The ILI procedures were based on the Sydney Melanoma Unit protocol using melphalan. Response was determined using the WHO criteria and toxicity was assessed using the Wieberdink scale. Results The median patient age was 74 years (range 28–100). Fifty‐six percent were female. Overall response (OR) rate to ILI was 63% (CR 27%; PR 36%). Wieberdink toxicity grade III or higher was seen in 13%. No toxicity‐related amputations occurred. Median follow‐up was 24 months; median survival was 58 months. In patients with a complete response (CR), median survival was 101 months; in patients with a partial response (PR) this was 41 months ( P = 0.026). On univariate analysis a younger age, lower‐limb procedures and a lower Breslow thickness of the primary melanoma were associated with a favorable response. On multivariate analysis Breslow thickness and lower‐limb ILI remained significant predictors for response. Conclusion In this, to date, largest multi‐center study of ILI for melanoma the results are comparable to other reports and demonstrate that ILI can be widely implemented and safely applied across tertiary referral centers. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:780–785 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.