To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Isolated Limb Infusion a Safe and Effective Way to Deliver Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients With Advanced Metastatic Melanoma of the Limb: Presented at ESSO URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22C5DE.htm Doctor's Guide September 15, 2008
By Shazia Qureshi THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- September 15, 2008 -- Isolated limb infusion (ILI) appears to be a safe and effective way of delivering high-dose regional chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced metastatic melanoma of the limb, according to research findings reported here at the 14th Congress of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO). The ILI technique is a low-flow isolated-limb perfusion (ILP) modality but uses percutaneous catheters and no oxygenation. Previous studies showed that ILI achieved comparative results to those seen with ILP but without the surgical morbidity, according to researcher Hidde Kroon, MD, Melanoma Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. For their prospective database study, Dr. Kroon and his colleagues evaluated 185 patients with advanced metastatic melanoma of the limb who had received treatment with a single session of ILI between 1993 and 2006. The researchers compared the 86 patients aged 75 years and older with 99 patients aged 75 years and younger. Patients aged 75 years or older were a mean of 82 years old (range, 75-93 years) and patients younger than 75 years were a mean of 64 years old (range, 29 to 74 years). The group aged 75 years and older contained a higher proportion of women than the group younger than 75 years (71% vs 54%; P = .02). The chemotherapy regimen used during the ILI consisted of melphalan plus actinomycin-D. The circulation time of the chemotherapy drugs was 20 to 30 minutes under conditions of mild hyperthermia. Results showed a lower complete response rate in the older patient group than in the younger patients. However, the difference was not significant (34% vs 41%; P = .28). In addition, the median limb recurrence-free interval following a complete response was 24 months in each group (P = .51). Median survival was not significantly different between the groups (39 and 36 months, respectively; P = .36). Wieberdink grade III/IV toxicity in the limb was seen in fewer older patients compared with younger patients (31% vs 51%; P = .009). Systemic toxicity, complications, length of hospital stay, and long-term morbidity were similar in the 2 groups. "Its minimally invasive character makes ILI an attractive alternative to the more laborious ILP technique, especially for older patients," Dr. Kroon concluded. [Presentation title: Safety and Efficacy of Isolated Limb Infusion in Elderly Patients With Advanced Locoregional Melanoma. Abstract 176] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.