Optimal extent of completion lymphadenectomy for patients with melanoma and a positive sentinel node in the groin.

BACKGROUND: The optimal extent of groin completion lymph node dissection (CLND) (inguinal or ilioinguinal dissection) in patients with melanoma is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the extent of groin CLND after a positive sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is associated with improved outcome. METHODS: Data from all sentinel node-positive patients who underwent groin CLND at four tertiary melanoma referral centres were retrieved retrospectively. Baseline patient and tumour characteristics were collected for descriptive statistics, survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. RESULTS: In total, 255 patients were included, of whom 137 (53·7 per cent) underwent inguinal dissection and 118 (46·3 per cent) ilioinguinal dissection. The overall CLND positivity rate was 18·8 per cent; the inguinal positivity rate was 15·5 per cent and the pelvic positivity rate was 9·3 per cent. The pattern of recurrence, and 5-year melanoma-specific survival, disease-free survival and distant-metastasis free survival rates were similar for both dissection types, even for patients with a positive CLND result. Cox regression analysis showed that type of CLND was not associated with disease-free or melanoma-specific survival. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in recurrence pattern and survival rates between patients undergoing inguinal or ilioinguinal dissection after a positive SNB, even after stratification for a positive CLND result. An inguinal dissection is a safe first approach as CLND in patients with a positive SNB.

Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma: Current controversies addressed.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is the most accurate staging tool for melanoma patients. The procedure is indicated especially for intermediate thickness melanoma (pT2/3). SNB can be of value in thin melanoma (>0.75 mm in thickness), with adverse prognostic factors, and in thick melanomas (pT4), although T4 patients are already at high risk of disease progression. Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) after positive SN yields additional non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSNs) in 20% of cases. Several factors are predictive for NSN positivity, such as primary tumor characteristics and SN tumor burden. The most used and best validated tumor burden parameter is the maximum diameter of the SN metastasis. Others are the microanatomic location of the metastasis in the SN and tumor penetrative depth. These parameters might be used to stratify risk and select patients for either adjuvant treatment trials (diameter >1 mm), or refraining from treatment (minimal SN tumor burden). There is no undisputed evidence for an overall treatment-related benefit for SNB-based management, although benefit has been suggested for a subgroup of node positive patients with intermediate-thickness melanomas. The DeCOG-SLT study failed to demonstrate a survival benefit for CLND after a positive SN. Results of the MSLT-2 and EORTC 1208 (MINITUB) trial, that both assess the role of CLND in SN positive patients have to be awaited. There might be a role for US-FNAC in melanoma staging. New SN visualization techniques can help allow easier identification of SNs in complex areas, shorten operation time and possibly reduce the amount of false-negative SNBs.

Efficacy of isolated limb perfusion (ILP) in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC): A multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and potentially aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin, with a propensity for locoregional metastases. In two expert referral centers, isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is used to obtain locoregional control in selected locoregionally advanced MCC patients. This study describes our experience. METHOD: Patients who underwent ILP for MCC were analyzed. ILP was performed with melphalan and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) combination therapy. Depending on the institution, either a normothermic or a hyperthermic temperature regimen was used. Baseline characteristics, toxicity data, locoregional progression-free survival (LPFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS: Four males and 6 females with a median age of 78 years (IQR 61-84 years) were included. Four patients underwent ILP for upper extremity disease and 6 for lower extremity disease. All patients received combination therapy with Melphalan and TNF, one patient with the addition of interferon-gamma. No signs of systemic toxicity were present post-ILP. Severe locoregional toxicity (compartment syndrome) occurred in 1 patient and 1 elderly patient with extensive atherosclerosis had to undergo transfemoral amputation due to critical ischemia. Eight patients could be included for response evaluation. The overall response rate (ORR) was 87.5% with a complete response (CR) rate of 62.5%. Two long-term responses of 53 months and 71 months were observed. Median LPFS was 5 months and median OS was 54 months. CONCLUSION: ILP shows a high CR rate that can be durable. Therefore, ILP should be considered an effective treatment modality for locally advanced MCC.