Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion for recurrent melanomas and soft tissue sarcomas: feasibility and reproducibility in a multi-institutional Hellenic collaborative study.

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with TNF-alpha and melphalan (TM-HILP) is a complicated surgical procedure. Herein, we present the experience of the Hellenic collaborating centers with TM-HILP for inoperable in-transit melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremities to examine safety and feasibility of collaborating as a multi-institutional group for future research studies. From 2001 to 2009, twenty patients (median age 63.5 years) underwent TM-HILP for locally advanced in-transit melanoma (n=14) or unresectable STS (n=6). All patients underwent a 90-min isolated limb perfusion with melphalan (10 mg/l limb volume) and TNF-alpha (1-2 mg) under mild hyperthermia (39-40 degrees C). No major intra-operative complications occurred and all patients completed the procedure successfully. One patient developed postoperative ischemic necrosis of the limb necessitating amputation. All melanoma patients showed a response to TM-HILP with 7 (62%) of them experiencing complete response. All STS patients attained complete response after excision of residual tumor. The median disease specific and limb-relapse-free survival was 15 and 12 months, respectively. TM-HILP can be safely applied even in low volume tertiary hospitals provided that technology to minimize intraoperative systemic leakage is available. Future prospective studies can be performed reproducibly by this multi-institutional collaborative group.