Effect of isolated limb perfusion on quality of life of melanoma patients

The authors assessed the effect of  isolated limb perfusion (a technique to administer drugs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in melanoma patients. The authors concluded that ILP caused an initial decrease in HRQoL followed by a steady maintenance after 12 months of treatment. 

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is a highly sophisticated surgical technique where high doses of anti-cancer drugs, such as chemotherapy, can be given directly into the melanoma-affected limb (leg or arm). The affected limb is isolated from the blood circulation using a tight band. This way, the vital organs of the body are not exposed to the high dose of chemotherapy. This technique is particularly useful for in-transit melanoma (cancer cells that have started to spread towards the nearby lymph nodes).

It is important to understand the effects of ILP on the HRQoL of in-transit melanoma patients. This includes physical, social, and emotional well-being. 

The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of ILP on HRQoL in in-transit melanoma patients.

In this study, HRQoL was assessed by responses from patients based on a questionnaire. 45 patients answered the questionnaire before ILP and at 3, 6, and 12 months following.

There was no difference in initial quality of life responses for age, gender and extent of cancer spread to lymph nodes. Patients with more than 10 metastases showed a decrease in HRQoL. There were no significant differences in HRQoL in patients with different responses to treatment (complete or partial disappearance of tumors) at 3 and 6 months after ILP treatment. At 12 months, the HRQoL score improved significantly for patients who saw a complete response to ILP.

Mild to moderate adverse reactions were reported in 96% of patients following ILP.

The authors concluded that there was an initial decrease in HRQoL after ILP. HRQoL stabilized after 12 months of treatment in patients who saw a response.