Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with intra-arterial administration of carboplatin and/or interferon-beta for the treatment of malignant melanoma of the leg.

Our experiences of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with administration of carboplatin, interferon-beta or a combination of both are reported. Administration of high doses of these reagents was well tolerated by patients with melanoma without severe complications after the treatment. A total of 8 patients underwent this therapeutic modality. Remarkable clinical improvement was seen in the first patient, who was in Stage III at the time of the perfusion. Histopathological findings indicated severe damage to the melanoma cells after the operation. Prophylactic hyperthermic perfusion was performed in 6 other patients with Stage II-III melanoma of the lower limb. None of them have shown any signs of recurrence 1-10 months later. The activities of natural killer cells or T lymphocytes appeared to be increased when the perfusion was carried out with concomitant administration of both carboplatin and interferon-beta. These results suggest that hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with carboplatin and/or interferon beta administration is effective in patients with advanced stage melanoma.