Two cases of metastatic malignant melanoma of the lower limb treated with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion and concomitant infusion of either carboplatin or beta-interferon.

Two cases of metastatic malignant melanoma of the lower limb who were treated successfully with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion are reported. One patient was infused with cisdiammine (1.1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate) platinum (II) (carboplatin, Paraplatin, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New Jersey, USA), and the other was infused with human natural beta-interferon (Feron, Toray, Tokyo, Japan), via the external iliac artery. The first case showed a remarkable suppression of the growth of multiple metastatic melanoma nodules associated with numerous melanophage infiltrations, as shown histopathologically after the operation. The patient's serum level of 5-S-cysteinyl dopa decreased for the two months following the treatment. In the second case, new formation of metastatic melanoma nodules was completely suppressed for up to 12 months following the operation. Analysis of immunological parameters showed that the number of peripheral CD8+ lymphocytes gradually and constantly increased after the operation, while that of CD4+ lymphocytes transiently increased and then returned to the pre-operative level. Natural killer activity transiently decreased to a slight degree 4 days after the operation and then returned to the pre-operative level 21 days after the operation. Side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and leg discomfort, were seen in the patient (Case 1) treated with carboplatin, but were completely reversible. These results suggest that hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with concomitant infusion of carboplatin or beta-interferon is effective in suppressing the growth of metastatic malignant melanomas of the lower limb.