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Improved survival of patients with stage II melanoma of the extremity using hyperthermic isolation perfusion with 1‐phenylalanine mustard

Between 1964 and 1983, 65 patients with Stage II extremity melanoma were treated in a nonrandomized fashion with wide local excision, lymph node dissection, and hyperthermic perfusion with 1‐phenylalanine mustard at 1.0–1.5 mg/kg. Southwest Oncology Group Stage II criteria were used, including IIA (node positive), IIB/C (recurrent local/regional), or both. During the study interval, literature reports of 5‐year survival for Stage II melanoma ranged from 6% to 50% and averaged approximately 26% to 30%. In this study group, 40% of patients had recurrent disease confined to regional lymph nodes, 33% had recurrent cutaneous disease, and 26% had recurrent disease in both locations. Survival for all Stage II patients at 5 years was 56.6%, and 40% at 10 years. When recurrent disease was confined to regional nodes only (IIA), survival at 5 years was 70.5%, and 40% at 10 years. Survival for patients with Stage IIB/C disease at 5 and 10 years was 58% and 43.7%. When recurrent melanomà was present in both skin and nodes, 5‐year survival was 29%. The present study indicates that aggressive treatment of Stage II extremity melanoma, which includes hyperthermic isolation perfusion, can prolong survival in these high‐risk patients.