Regional perfusion with cis-platinum and dacarbazine

In 22 patients isolated extremity perfusion with cis-platinum for treatment of malignant melanoma was performed; 18 had local metastastic disease (M. D. Anderson stages II and III A, B, AB) and four were stage I. A further five patients were submitted to isolated DTIC perfusion. DTIC-perfused tumors showed regression rates of 30%-80%, followed by recurrences within 4 months. After cis-platinum perfusion stage-III AB cases tended to show tumor recurrence within 4 months, while to date stage-III A and stage-II cases have reached disease-free survival times of 17 and 20 months respectively. While in DTIC perfusion the tissue temperature may range between 40 degrees and 41 degrees C, in cis-platinum perfusions 40 degrees C should not be exceeded; otherwise neural damage will occur.