Isolated limb infusion with cytotoxic agent for treatment of localized refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Isolated limb infusion: Institutional protocol and implementation

Patients with unresectable cutaneous and soft tissue malignancies confined to a limb have many treatment options. Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is one therapeutic option whereby the extremity is isolated and perfused with high-dose chemotherapy through a percutaneously placed catheter-based procedure. A detailed description of the ILI protocol at the Moffitt Cancer Center is given. We have shown that ILI is a safe and effective treatment strategy for malignancies confined to an extremity.

Isolated limb perfusion as a treatment option for rare types of tumours

BACKGROUND

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is an established and effective treatment for advanced melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities with a high overall response rate. The aim of this study was to describe our experience of ILP for more rare types of tumours.

METHODS

Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) (n = 4), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n = 2), B-cell lymphoma (n = 1), desmoid tumours (n = 3), pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) (n = 1) and giant cell tumour (n = 1) were treated with ILP and analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

The four patients with in-transit MCC had three complete responses (CR) and one partial response (PR); the two patients with SCC had one CR and one stable disease (SD); the patients with desmoid tumours had two PR and one SD. A CR was also observed for the patient with a giant cell tumour, but the patient with PVNS had a SD. The patient with cutaneous metastases of B-cell lymphoma showed a CR, however with rapid systemic progression. Local toxicity according to Wieberdink was grade II in 10 patients (83%) and grade III in two patients (17%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that ILP can be used as a treatment option also for more rare disease entities when other treatments have failed.

Novel treatment for early-stage nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: intra-maxillary arterial infusion chemotherapy with concomitant radiotherapy

Nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (NNKTL) displays unusual clinicopathological features, and the prognosis is very poor, even in the early stages of the disease. For early stage NNKTL, we have developed a novel chemoradiotherapy regimen incorporating arterial infusion chemotherapy, administered via the superficial temporal artery, in combination with radiotherapy. The novel arterial infusion regimen consists of ifosfamide, carboplatin, methotrexate, peplomycin, and etoposide (MPVIC-P). From 2003 to 2011, 12 patients with early stage NNKTL were treated with the MPVIC-P regimen via arterial infusion with concomitant radiotherapy (54 Gy). We have previously reported on the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genetic DNA in NNKTL. Therefore, the effect of the treatment was evaluated by using both clinical findings and serum EBV DNA copy number. The observation period ranged from 39 months to 111 months post-treatment (median: 81 months). All 12 patients achieved and maintained complete remission and, to date, show no sign of relapse. Serum EBV DNA copy numbers decreased to below detectable levels in all 12 patients tested. Manageable mucositis was the most common grade 3-4 toxicity, and it was seen in 10 (83%) patients. However, grade 3-4 hematological toxicity was only seen in 4 (33%) patients. We conclude that our regimen of intra-maxillary arterial chemotherapy with concomitant radiotherapy is an effective treatment with minimal toxicity for early stage NNKTL. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Isolated limb infusion: technical aspects

OBJECTIVE

To describe the technique of isolated limb infusion (ILI) for regional high dose chemotherapy in patients with advanced malignancies confined to a limb, as currently practiced at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA).

BACKGROUND

ILI is progressively being used around the world but to date the reported response rates are generally lower than those reported by MIA.

DISCUSSION

This description of the ILI protocol at MIA provides details that may allow other surgeons to improve results.

Isolated limb infusion with cytotoxic agents: a simplified approach for venous access

BACKGROUND

Isolated limb infusion (ILI) of cytotoxic agents is a regional therapy for cutaneous malignancies in a single extremity. Conventional ILI technique requires retrograde catheterization of the contralateral femoral vein. A novel modified ILI technique uses an ipsilateral popliteal venous approach. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of ILI using the 2 different approaches.

METHODS

Data from patients who underwent lower-extremity ILI at the authors' institution between October 2005 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The authors compared the 2 ILI approaches with regard to overall procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and the number of callbacks to the operating room (OR) for flow-related issues. The Student t test and Fisher exact test were used. Adverse events, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the treated limb, were recorded.

RESULTS

Between October 2005 and June 2008, 67 lower-extremity ILI procedures (15 using a contralateral venous access approach and 52 using an ipsilateral venous access approach) were performed in 62 patients (28 men and 34 women aged 31-82 years). The mean fluoroscopy times for the contralateral and ipsilateral groups were 17.9 and 8.3 minutes, respectively (P = .0019). No significant difference in the overall procedure time and number of callbacks to the OR for flow-related issues between the 2 groups was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The ipsilateral popliteal venous approach is a simplified and safe ILI technique with significantly lower overall fluoroscopy procedure times required for catheter placement and no difference in catheter-related adverse events, when compared with the conventional contralateral approach.

Isolated limb infusion: technique description and clinical application

Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a recently described minimally invasive technique indicated in the management of regionally advanced cancers refractory to systemic therapy and surgery. The present report describes the initial single-center experience of three patients with regionally advanced peripheral melanoma and one with lower-extremity cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treated over a period of 1 year. It is feasible to perform the complete ILI procedure in a single 60-100-minute session, solely in the interventional radiology suite, without a requirement for patient transfer to the operating room or extra waiting time between catheter insertion and chemotherapy infusion treatment.

Isolated limb infusion: a review

Isolated limb perfusion is the preferred treatment option for locally advanced melanoma and sarcoma confined to a limb. This treatment results in high response rates with a satisfying duration of response in both tumours. A drawback of isolated limb perfusion, however, is the invasive and complex character of the procedure.Isolated limb infusion has been designed as a minimally invasive alternative to isolated limb perfusion. Treatment results of this simple technique, reported by various centres worldwide, show comparable response rates for melanoma and sarcoma. Therefore isolated limb infusion may replace isolated limb perfusion in the future as the preferred treatment option for these locally advanced limb tumours.