Isolated Limb Perfusion Prolongs the Limb Recurrence-Free Interval After Several Episodes of Excisional Surgery for Locoregional Recurrent Melanoma

Xeroderma Pigmentosum: A Genetic Condition Skin Cancer Correlated—A Systematic Review

Background. Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of UV radiation-induced damage repair that is characterized by photosensitivity and a propensity for developing, among many others, skin cancers at an early age. This systematic review focused on the correlation between the clinical, pathological, and genetic aspects of XP and skin cancer. Methods. A systematic review was conducted through a literature search of online databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and Google Scholar. Search terms were “Xeroderma pigmentosum”, “XP”, “XPC”, “Nucleotide excision repair”, “NER”, “POLH”, “Dry pigmented skin”, and “UV sensitive syndrome” meshed with the terms “Skin cancer”, “Melanoma”, and “NMSC”. Results. After 504 abstracts screening, 13 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 3 of them were excluded. Ten articles were selected for qualitative assessment. Conclusions. Patients with XP usually suffer shorter lives due to skin cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Deletion/alteration of a distinct gene allele can produce different types of cancer. The XPC and XP-E variants are more likely to have skin cancer than patients in other complement groups, and the most common cause of death for these patients is skin cancer (metastatic melanoma or invasive SCC). Still, aggressive preventative measures to minimize UV radiation exposure can retard the course of the disease and improve the quality of life.

Role of Isolated Limb Perfusion in the Era of Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy in Melanoma. A Systematic Review of The Literature

BACKGROUND

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is a locoregional procedure indicated by the unresectable melanoma of the limbs. Its complexity and highly demanding multidisciplinary approach means that it is a technique only implemented in a few referral centers around the globe. This report aims to examine its potential role in the era of targeted therapies and immunotherapy by conducting a systematic review of the literature on ILP.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched. The eligibility criteria included publications from 2000-2020 providing valid data o effectiveness, survival or toxicity. Studies in which the perfusion methodology was not clearly described, letters to the editor, non-systematic reviews and studies that applied outdated clinical guidelines were excluded. To rule out studies of a low methodological quality and assess the risk of bias, the following aspects were also required: a detailed description of the applied ILP regimen, the clinical context, follow-up periods, analyzed clinical endpoints, and the number of analyzed ILPs. The disagreements were resolved by consensus. The results are presented in tables and figures.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies including 2637 ILPs were selected. The median overall response rate was 85%, with a median complete response rate of 58.5%. The median overall survival was 38 months, with a 5-year overall survival of 35%. The toxicity was generally mild according to Wieberdink toxicity criteria.

DISCUSSION

ILP still offer a high efficacy in selected patients. The main limitation of our review is the heterogeneity and age of most of the articles, as well as the absence of clinical trials comparing ILP with other procedures, making it difficult to transfer its results to the current era.

CONCLUSIONS

ILP is still an effective and safe procedure for selected patients with unresectable melanoma of the limbs. In the era of targeted therapies and immunotherapy, ILP remains an acceptable and reasonable palliative treatment alternative, especially to avoid limb amputations. The ongoing clinical trials combining systemic therapies and ILP will provide more valuable information in the future to clarify the potential synergism of both strategies.

Melphalan hypoxic perfusion with hemofiltration for melanoma locoregional metastases in the pelvis

BACKGROUND

For patients with melanoma metastases in the pelvic and groin regions, the median survival time (MST) was 8 mo with old treatments, whereas today is approximately 20 mo with new target therapy and novel immunotherapy. Unfortunately, approximately 30% of patients are nonresponsive to these new drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six patients, previously progressing after standard treatments, collectively received 146 melphalan (30 mg/m2) hypoxic pelvic perfusions with hemofiltration, in association with palliative excision in most cases.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 15 mo. Among 36 patients, three patients were alive without evidence of disease after 62, 95, and 118 mo, respectively. Thirty-three patients died of melanoma. The overall MST was 15 mo. The 5-y survival rate was 8%. The MST was 37 mo for stage IIIB; 19 mo for stage IIIC; and 6 mo for stage IV. The MST was 11 mo for patients with ≥1 mitosis per mm2 and 20 mo for patients with <1 mitosis per mm2; 17 mo for patients who received excision and 7 mo for patients who did not receive excision; and 19.5 mo for patients who received >2 treatments and 7.5 mo for patients who received ≤2 treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic/inguinal perfusion is a safe and feasible treatment for patients with advanced melanoma. Further studies are necessary to establish if it may play a role in patients who fail current systemic therapies.

A multi-institutional experience of repeat regional chemotherapy for recurrent melanoma of extremities

BACKGROUND

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) or isolated limb infusion (ILI) are well-accepted regional chemotherapy techniques for in-transit melanoma of extremity. The role and efficacy of repeat regional chemotherapy for recurrence and which salvage procedure is better remains debatable. We aimed to compare toxicities and clinical outcomes by procedure types and the sequence.

METHODS

Data from 44 patients, who underwent repeat HILPs or ILIs from 3 institutions beginning 1997 to 2010, were retrospectively reviewed. Regional toxicity assessed by Wieberdink grade, systemic toxicity assessed by serum creatine phosphokinase level, length of hospital stay (LOS), response rates at 3 months after the procedure, and time to in-field progression (TTP) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of 44 patients, 46% were men and 54% women with a median age of 66 (range 29-85) years at diagnosis. The median follow-up was 21.4 (range 4-153) months. Of 70 ILIs and 28 HILPs, the following groups were identified: group A, ILI → ILI (n = 25); group B, ILI → HILP (n = 10); group C, HILP → ILI (n = 12); and group D, HILP → HILP (n = 3). The comparison of Wieberdink grade, serum creatine phosphokinase level, LOS, and response rate between procedures (HILP vs. ILI), between sequence (initial vs. repeat), and among their interactions showed no statistically significant differences. TTP after initial procedure did not differ between HILP and ILI (P = 0.08), and no survival difference was seen (P = 0.65) when TTP after repeat procedure was compared.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients tolerated repeat regional chemotherapy without increased toxicity or LOS. No statistical difference in clinical outcomes was noted when comparing repeat procedures, even though repeat HILPs showed higher complete response compared to repeat ILIs.

Results of isolated lower limb perfusion for loco-regional advanced/recurrent melanoma using borderline true hyperthermia plus additional bolus of melphalan. A critical analysis of homogeneous cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of our modified ILP treatment with borderline true hyperthermia and high melphalan concentration in stage III lower limb melanoma.

METHODS

Between March 1990 and December 2006, 91 consecutive patients were given ILP treatment. Forty three patients were treated with double L-PAM bolus combined with D-actinomicin; 48 patients were treated with additional L-PAM bolus alone.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period is 68.5 months. The acute regional toxicity occurred with grade II (54%), III (38%), IV (2.1%). The systemic toxic effects were present with transitory hematological disorders. Complete response (CR) rate was observed in 89.2% of stage IIIA-IIIAB unexcised IT-mets. The overall limb recurrent disease in stage III was 39%. In patients with CR recurrent rate occurred in 44% with a mean limb recurrence-free interval (LRFI) of 23.8 months. Distant metastases was attained with a mean time of 29.2 months. After CR, the interval was 32.1 months. The 5-year survival rate was 45%; in patients with CR, was 48%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our procedure is an important therapeutic option. The results suggest a marked local control of the recurrent disease. The LRFI is longer than for those treated with other treatment schedules.

Long-term results of melphalan-based isolated limb perfusion with or without low-dose TNF for in-transit melanoma metastases

BACKGROUND

The aims of the study were: (1) to determine toxicity, response rate, local-regional control, and survival in the entire population of the perfused patients; (2) to compare toxicity, response, and survival among patients who underwent melphalan-based perfusion with or without low-dose tumor necrosis factor (TNF); and (3) to identify factors that predict a complete response and survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 53 patients with extensive in-transit metastases (47%) underwent perfusion with melphalan, and 59 (53%) also received low-dose TNF.

RESULTS

No difference was observed between the 2 drug regimens for what concerns local toxicity (P = 1.0). The tumor complete response rate was higher in patients treated with TNF (60.3% versus 41.5%, P = .036), in particular in the case of locally advanced tumors (66.7% versus 30%, P = .049). The presence of lymph node metastases had a negative influence on the tumor response rate (P = .003). Median time to local progression and survival were 19.6 and 34.5 months, respectively. Long-term complete response was achieved in 68% of the patients with initial CR (39 of 57 patients). The tumor response after perfusion was the only prognostic factor for local control and survival (P < .0001 and P = .002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In the case of locally advanced disease, the addition of low-dose TNF to melphalan-based isolated limb perfusion appears safe and particularly useful. The presence of lymph node metastases is associated with decreased response rates. A sustained complete response was obtained in about one-third of the patients.

Isolated limb perfusion for malignant melanoma: systematic review on effectiveness and safety

BACKGROUND

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) involves the administration of chemotherapy drugs directly into a limb involved by locoregional metastases. Unresectable locally advanced melanoma of the limbs represents one of the clinical settings in which ILP has demonstrated benefits.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature on ILP for patients with unresectable locally advanced melanoma of the limbs was conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane database searches were conducted to identify studies fulfilling the following inclusion criteria: hyper- or normothermic ILP with melphalan with or without tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or other drugs providing valid data on clinical response, survival, or toxicity. To allocate levels of evidence and grades of recommendation the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network system was used.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies including 2,018 ILPs were selected with a clear predominance of observational studies (90.90%) against experimental studies (9.10%). The median complete response rate to ILP was of 58.20%, with a median overall response rate of 90.35%. ILP with melphalan yielded a median complete response rate of 46.50%, against a 68.90% median complete response rate for melphalan plus TNF ILP. The median 5-year overall-survival rate was 36.50%, with a median overall survival interval of 36.70 months. The Wieberdink IV and V regional toxicity rates were 2.00% and 0.65%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ILP is effective in achieving clinical responses in patients with unresectable locally advanced melanoma of the limbs. The disease-free and overall survival rates provided by ILP are acceptable. ILP is safe, with a low incidence of severe regional and systemic toxicity.

Efficacy of repeat isolated limb infusion with melphalan and actinomycin D for recurrent melanoma

BACKGROUND

: Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is an effective and minimally invasive treatment option for delivering regional chemotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma confined to a limb. Recurrent or progressive disease after an ILI, however, presents a challenge for further treatment. The value of repeat ILI in this situation has not been well documented.

METHODS

: Forty-eight patients were identified who had been treated with a repeat ILI. In all patients, a cytotoxic combination of melphalan and actinomycin D was used.

RESULTS

: The median time between the 2 procedures was 11 months. The complete response (CR) rate after repeat ILI was 23%, compared with 31% after the initial ILI (P = .36). The overall response was 83%, compared with 75% after the first procedure (P = .32). The median duration of response was 11 months (10 months for patients with CR; P = .80), and median survival was 38 months. In those patients achieving a CR, the median survival was 68 months (P = .003). Toxicity after repeat ILI was increased, with 20 patients experiencing Wieberdink grade III limb toxicity (considerable erythema and edema with blistering) and 5 patients experiencing grade IV toxicity (threatened or actual compartment syndrome), whereas after the initial ILI these toxicity grades occurred in 14 patients and 1 patient, respectively (P = .03). No patient experienced grade V toxicity (requiring amputation).

CONCLUSIONS

: Repeat ILI is an attractive treatment option to achieve limb salvage in patients with inoperable recurrent or progressive melanoma after a previous ILI. It can be associated with significant short-term regional toxicity, but is well tolerated by most patients, with satisfactory response rates. Cancer 2009. (c) 2009 American Cancer Society.

Toxicity and morbility after isolated lower limb perfusion in 242 chemo-hyperthermal treatments for cutaneous melanoma: the experience of the Tuscan Reference Centre

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the results concerning the regional and systemic toxicity and complications in 242 chemo-hyperthermal treatments (HILPs) for lower limb melanoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

60 HILPs (G-A) were performed with mild HT plus L-PAM (10 mg/lt) +/- D-actimomycin; 74 HILPs (G-B) with true HT (40-41.8 degrees C) plus L-PAM (10 mg/lt) +/- D-act; 108 HILPs (G-C) with true HT plus L-PAM (10 mg/lt) +/- D-act plus L-PAM (5 mg/lt) additional bolus.

RESULTS

Limb toxicity was very low in G-A and in G-B; increasing toxicity (grade III = 37%) in G-C; no grade IV statistical difference was registered in all three groups, with percentage values among 1.6% and 2.7%. Systemic toxicity showed itself only in the haemopoietic parameters. No differences were registered in G-B vs G-A group. In G-C vs G-B a significative increase of systemic toxicity was seen in grade 3 (p < 0.05). Postoperative complications were acceptable. Local and systemic side-effects were transient; no permanent neurological limb deficit was registered. The postoperative mortality was recorded in 3/182 HILPs (1.6%) of the G-B and G-C groups.

CONCLUSION

These data suggested that the technical implementations reduced the occurrence and the severity of the side effects and complications. The essential requirement for HILP is the quality assurance of the procedures. Although higher regional and systemic toxicity were observed in the G-C group caused by L-PAM additional bolus, the safeness of the procedures under the true hyperthermal regimen and the time increase of the high L-PAM concentration have assured the treatment reliability along with the increased clinical efficacy expectations of the treatments.

Perfusão isolada de membro com hipertermia na trataento das metástases em trânsito do melanoma cutâneo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a casuística do Setor de Tumores Cutâneos da Disciplina de Cirurgia Plástica da Escola Paulista de Medicina/ Universidade Federal de São Paulo em relação à Perfusão Isolada de Membro (PIM) para o tratamento das metástases em trânsito do melanoma cutâneo, bem como os resultados conseqüentes, comparando-os com a literatura internacional. MÉTODO: De maio de 1993 a abril de 2007, 41 pacientes portadores de metástases em trânsito do melanoma cutâneo submeteram-se a 44 PIM. Por meio da observação de seus prontuários, foram avaliados quanto à toxicidade regional e sistêmica, e resposta tumoral após a PIM. Após a coleta dos resultados, procedeu-se a comparação com a literatura internacional e as posteriores conclusões. RESULTADOS: Houve 43,2% de respostas completas, 36,4% de respostas parciais e 20,4% sem resposta ao tratamento proposto. A toxicidade regional aguda descrita foi, de modo geral, restrita a edema e eritema discretos, não havendo nenhum caso de complicação sistêmica grave. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados obtidos nessa casuística corroboram os descritos pela literatura internacional, demonstrando a importância e a possibilidade da PIM para o controle locoregional das metástases em trânsito do melanoma cutâneo também na realidade brasileira.

Long-term results of hyperthermic, isolated limb perfusion for melanoma: a reflection of tumor biology

PURPOSE

To review the long-term duration of limb tumor complete remission (CR) and patient survival following therapeutic hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with cytotoxic drugs for melanoma.

METHODS

A retrospective case series of 124 ILPs performed in 111 patients.

RESULTS

There were 120 assessable ILPs. Patient staging (M.D. Anderson system) was stage II 11.7%, stage IIIA 44.2%, stage IIIAB 33.3%, and stage IV 10.8%. CR was initially attained after 83 ILPs (69.2%) and partial remission (PR) after 19 ILPs (15.8%). Limb CR was maintained in 28 (33.7%) of the 83 cases. Disease recurred in the perfused limb after an initial CR in the remaining 55 cases (median time to recurrence, 11 months); in 19 of these cases, the limb was disease-free at last follow-up after further locoregional treatment. A long-term CR was achieved, with or without further treatment, in 47 (56.6%) of the 83 cases in which an initial CR had occurred (mean follow-up, 97 months; median, 65 months). There was no significant difference in long-term local remission for stage IIIA and IIIAB patients. Five-year survival for those who had a partial or no response to ILP was 7%. Ten-year survival for those who had a long-term CR was 49%.

CONCLUSIONS

ILP, with or without further locoregional treatment, achieved long-term control of recurrent and metastatic limb disease in 56.6% of cases in which an initial CR was achieved. A complete response to ILP was a positive prognostic indicator for survival, probably reflecting more favorable tumor biology in this subset of patients.

Defining regional infusion treatment strategies for extremity melanoma: comparative analysis of melphalan and temozolomide as regional chemotherapeutic agents

Five different human melanoma xenografts were used in a xenograft model of extremity melanoma to evaluate the variability of tumor response to regionally administered melphalan or temozolomide and to determine if various components of pertinent drug resistance pathways for melphalan [glutathione S-transferase (GST)/glutathione] and temozolomide [O(6)-alkylguanine DNA alkyltranferase (AGT)/mismatch repair (MMR)] could be predictive of tumor response. Xenograft-bearing rats underwent regional isolated limb infusion with either melphalan (90 mg/kg) or temozolomide (2,000 mg/kg). The levels of AGT activity, GST activity, glutathione level, and GST/AGT expression were examined in this group of xenografts and found to be quite heterogeneous. No correlation was identified between melphalan sensitivity and the GST/glutathione cellular detoxification pathway. In contrast, a strong correlation between the levels of AGT activity and percentage increase in tumor volume on day 30 (r = 0.88) was noted for tumors treated with temozolomide. Regional therapy with temozolomide was more effective when compared with melphalan for the xenograft with the lowest AGT activity, whereas melphalan was more effective than temozolomide in another xenograft that had the highest AGT activity. In three other xenografts, there was no significant difference in response between the two chemotherapy agents. This study shows that AGT activity may be useful in predicting the utility of temozolomide-based regional therapy for advanced extremity melanoma tumors. Our observations also point out the limited ability of analysis of the GST/glutathione pathway to predict response to chemotherapies like melphalan whose resistance is primarily mediated through a complex mechanism of detoxification.

Isolated limb perfusion in regional melanoma

Adjuvant perfusion to excision of a primary melanoma cannot be recommended because of its limited effect. In patients who have frequently recur-ring resectable locoregional melanoma, perfusion may provide valuable loco-regional disease control by decreasing the number of recurrences and lesions per recurrence. Randomized studies are needed to further establish the role of perfusion as an adjuvant treatment for resectable recurrences of melanoma. Unresectable limb melanoma is the primary indication for perfusion. Better response rates tend to be seen when TNF-a is used in patients who have a high tumor load. Repeat perfusion is feasible, resulting in response rates similar to those of a first perfusion for locoregional melanoma. Older age itself is not a contraindication for perfusion. The long-term health-related quality of life of survivors of melanoma who underwent treatment with perfusion is comparable to that of their healthy peers in the general Dutch population.

Palliative isolated limb perfusion for advanced limb disease in stage IV melanoma patients

INTRODUCTION

Two to three percent of the patients with extremity melanoma develop in-transit metastases in the course of their disease. When local treatments fail, isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is a reasonable option, but is generally only applied to patients without evidence of distant metastases. We assessed the value of ILP in stage IV melanoma patients with symptomatic unresectable limb melanoma at our institutions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A computerized database, containing all patient, tumor, ILP, and follow-up data of 505 ILPs performed in 451 patients between 1978 and 2001, allowed the selection of eight (1.8%) stage IV patients who underwent a palliative ILP for unresectable melanoma lesions on the limbs. All patients had high tumor burden limb disease, according to the combined Fraker and Rossi criteria.

RESULTS

The overall tumor response rate was 88%, with 13% complete and 75% partial response rates. One patient did not respond to ILP. Three partial responding patients attained a complete remission (CR) after excision of the remaining limb lesions. The median duration of hospital stay was 12 days and acute regional toxicity was mild with slight erythema and edema in six and no signs of reaction in two patients. The median limb recurrence-free interval after CR was 6 months and the median duration from the time of distant metastases to death was 15 months. Overall ILP leads to the desired palliative effect in six patients (75%).

CONCLUSION

ILP should be considered as a palliative treatment in selected stage IV melanoma patients with symptomatic advanced limb disease.