International Multicenter Experience of Isolated Limb Infusion for In-Transit Melanoma Metastases in Octogenarian and Nonagenarian Patients.

Abstract

Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is used to treat in-transit melanoma metastases confined to an extremity. However, little is known about its safety and efficacy in octogenarians and nonagenarians (ON). ON patients (≥ 80years) who underwent a first ILI for American Joint Committee on Cancer seventh edition stage IIIB/IIIC melanoma between 1992 and 2018 at nine international centers were included and compared with younger patients (< 80years). A cytotoxic drug combination of melphalan and actinomycin-D was used. Of the 687 patients undergoing a first ILI, 160 were ON patients (median age 84years; range 80-100years). Compared with the younger cohort (n = 527; median age 67years; range 29-79years), ON patients were more frequently female (70.0% vs. 56.9%; p = 0.003), had more stage IIIB disease (63.8 vs. 53.3%; p = 0.02), and underwent more upper limb ILIs (16.9% vs. 9.5%; p = 0.009). ON patients experienced similar Wieberdink limb toxicity grades III/IV (25.0% vs. 29.2%; p = 0.45). No toxicity-related limb amputations were performed. Overall response for ON patients was 67.3%, versus 64.6% for younger patients (p = 0.53). Median in-field progression-free survival was 9months for both groups (p = 0.88). Median distant progression-free survival was 36 versus 23months (p = 0.16), overall survival was 29 versus 40months (p < 0.0001), and melanoma-specific survival was 46 versus 78months (p = 0.0007) for ON patients compared with younger patients, respectively. ILI in ON patients is safe and effective with similar response and regional control rates compared with younger patients. However, overall and melanoma-specific survival are shorter.