Results of Regional Hyperthermic Perfusion for Primary and Recurrent Melanomas of the Extremities

Abstract

The technique for regional isolated perfusion has remained essentially the same since it was introduced in 1957, with the exception that heat was added in 1967 (Creech et al. 1958; Stehlin 1969). The anticancer drug most consistently used since 1957 is melphalan (Alkeran). The aim of isolation perfusion is to subject the tumor-bearing region to the influence of a high concentration of anticancer drugs in such a way that contamination of other parts of the body does not occur to any significant extent (Stehlin 1969). Malignant melanoma of the extremities seems especially suitable for this treatment, because local and regional metastases occur in up to 20% of patients (McBride et al. 1975). Reports of prolonged survival and local control of tumor growth have also encouraged many centers to perform this kind of treatment, not only for palliative (therapeutic) but also for curative (adjuvant) purposes (McBride et al. 1975; Stehlin et al. 1975; Martijn et al. 1982). In this report the experience with, and results of, hyperthermic melphalan perfusion for primary and recurrent melanoma in Lund since 1976 are presented.