Isolated Limb Perfusion With Melphalan Triggers Immune Activation in Melanoma Patients.

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with melphalan (M-ILP) is a treatment option for melanoma patients with metastases confined to the limbs. This study aimed at defining the role of cellular immunity for the clinical response to M-ILP in melanoma patients. It was observed that patients with enhanced cytotoxic CD8 T cell reactivity to common antigens (HCMV/EBV/influenza virus) prior to M-ILP were more likely to achieve a complete disappearance of macroscopic tumors (complete response).