The role of regional chemotherapy in the management of extremity soft tissue malignancies

Abstract Background Regional chemotherapy involves the targeted delivery of high dose chemotherapy to an affected area. In the limbs, the two main methods employed are isolated limb perfusion (ILP) and isolated limb infusion (ILI), with advantages and disadvantages to each technique. The aim of this review was to clarify the roles of each technique in the management of locally advanced soft tissue malignancies of the extremities. Methods Relevant articles were identified from a comprehensive literature search using the PubMed database. Keywords included isolated limb perfusion, isolated limb infusion, in-transit melanoma and sarcoma. No restrictions on publication date were used. Results Regional chemotherapy may be used to secure local control in a range of soft tissue malignancies not amenable to standard excision and is increasingly used as an induction treatment in soft tissue sarcoma. Though both ILI and ILP are well established in the management of in-transit melanoma, ILP should be preferentially used in soft tissue sarcoma. Conclusion Regional chemotherapy is an effective treatment for locally advanced extremity malignancies and the technique used should be tailored to patient and tumour factors.