Long-term outcome of isolated limb perfusion in advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity

Isolated limb perfusion with tumor necrosis factor alpha and melphalan (TM-ILP) has proven to be a successful option in treating advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS), where amputation otherwise is needed to achieve safe surgical margins.

From 2000 to 2009, 54 patients with locally advanced STS, who all were candidates for amputation, were treated with totally 57 TM-ILP procedures and then followed prospectively. The median follow-up time was 30 months. Median tumor size was 10 cm, and 94% of the patients had high-grade tumors.

The clinical overall response after TM-ILP was 71% (including 21% CR), and 60% of the patients underwent resection of the tumor remnant after a median of 2 months. The histopathologic response rate in the resected specimens was 76%. Local recurrence/progress occurred in 37% of the patients after a median of 7 months. Thirteen patients finally underwent amputation after a median of 11 months, giving a long-term limb salvage of 76%.

TM-ILP of advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities makes limb-sparing surgery possible in a high proportion of patients.