Results of regional isolation perfusion with cytostatics in patients with soft tissue tumors of the extremities

From 1975 to 1986, 26 patients with soft tissue tumors of the extremities underwent a total of 29 perfusions. The cytostatics used were doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) (19 perfusions), melphalan (two perfusions), and a combination of these agents (eight perfusions). Before perfusion most patients had been treated by surgical excision(s), radiotherapy, or systemic chemotherapy. Of 17 patients perfused because of local inoperable tumor, four showed prolonged complete remission of the tumor mass, stable disease was seen in three, and ten showed progression. The complete remissions observed in three patients with aggressive fibromatosis and in one with lymphangiosarcoma occurred after perfusion with doxorubicin combined with melphalan. Doxorubicin added to the perfusate as the sole cytostatic was not effective. Local recurrence was observed in five of nine patients treated by adjuvant perfusion, always after dubiously radical tumor excision. Toxicity was high, especially in the first few years. Tissue necrosis necessitated amputation in three cases (in two after perfusion with doxorubicin and melphalan and in one after repeated perfusion with doxorubicin only). This complication was no longer seen after adjustment of the dosage and dose distribution of doxorubicin, but the morbidity after perfusion with doxorubicin remained considerable.