Peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal or appendiceal origin: correlation of preoperative CT with intraoperative findings and evaluation of interobserver agreement

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In patients with colorectal cancer, it is important to diagnose peritoneal carcinomatosis as well as to detect location and size of peritoneal tumor dissemination in view of treatment planning. The aim of this study was to investigate the detection accuracy of computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

Preoperative CT-scans from 25 consecutive patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal or appendiceal origin were independently blindly reviewed by 2 radiologists. The presence and diameter of tumor deposits were noted in seven abdominopelvic areas. Intraoperative findings were regarded as the gold standard. Agreement was assessed using the Kappa index and the chi-square test.

RESULTS

The presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis was detected in 60 and 76% of those patients by each of the radiologist. Detection of individual peritoneal implants was poor (kappa = 0.11/0.23) and varied from 9.1%/24.3% for tumor size <1 cm to 59.3%/66.7% for tumor size >5 cm. Overall sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for tumor involvement per area were 24.5%/37.3%, 94.5%/90.4%, 53.0%/60.0%, 86.2%/84.4%, and 47.3%/50.8%, respectively. Accuracy of tumor detection varied widely per anatomic site. Statistically significant interobserver differences were noted, specifically for tumor size of 1-5 cm (P = 0.007) and localization on mesentery and small bowel (kappa = 0.30, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In colorectal cancer, CT detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis is moderate and of individual peritoneal tumor deposits poor. Interobserver differences are statistically significant. Therefore, preoperative CT seems not to be a reliable tool for detection of presence, size, and location of peritoneal tumor implants in view of treatment planning in patients with colorectal cancer.

Desmoid tumors: need for an individualized approach

Desmoid tumor, also known as aggressive fibromatosis or desmoid-type fibromatosis, is a rare monoclonal, fibroblastic proliferation arising in musculoaponeurotic structures. Although histologically benign, desmoids are often locally invasive and associated with a high local recurrence rate after resection. Since it is a heterogeneous disease, in particular regarding clinical presentation, anatomic location and biological behavior, treatment should be individualized to reduce local tumor control failure with concurrently acceptable morbidity and preservation of quality of life. Many issues regarding optimal treatment of desmoids remain controversial. However, wide surgical excision remains the treatment of choice, except when surgery is mutilating and is associated with considerable function loss or major morbidity. Involvement of surgical margins is probably associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. Postoperative radiotherapy results in a significant reduction of the local recurrence rate, but only in the case of involved surgical margins. Radiotherapy for gross disease is considerably effective, but is associated with a relatively high rate of complications, which are usually mild or moderate and radiation dose dependent. Radiotherapy should only be applied where anatomic constraints preclude complete resection and radiotherapy is not too toxic. Risk factors for local tumor control failure include young age, large size, presentation as recurrent disease, limb/girdle or intra-abdominal location, involved surgical margins, omission of radiotherapy, radiation dose less than 50 Gy and insufficient radiation field size. Increased comprehension of the pathogenesis and biological behavior of desmoids resulted in the emerging applicability of systemic therapies and a wait-and-see policy. Systemic treatment may be indicated in patients that have anatomic barriers to effective surgery or radiotherapy. Considering the significant morbidity of surgery and/or radiotherapy for certain locations, especially mutilation and loss of function, and the tumor's natural history, which is often characterized by prolonged periods of stability or even regression, a period of watchful waiting may compose the most appropriate management in selected asymptomatic patients. Attempts to complete eradication of the disease may be worse than the disease itself.

Preoperative computed tomography and selection of patients with colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

AIM

A survival benefit has been observed for colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis treated by cytoreductive surgery with intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). However, this treatment modality is associated with a considerable morbidity and mortality and in a significant number of patients survival is not improved. We studied whether poor survivors could be identified on preoperative computed tomography (CT), in order to avoid unnecessary surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Films of abdominopelvic CT scans from 25 such patients treated by cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC were retrospectively analysed by two radiologists separately. A simplified peritoneal cancer index (SPCI) was used to determine the extent of peritoneal involvement. Correlation between the on preoperative CT based SPCI-scores as well as number of involved abdominopelvic areas (N) and survival was examined with the log-rank test. The relation between each affected region and survival was evaluated with Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The preoperative SPCI- and N-scores of one of the radiologists had no statistically significant prognostic value, while for the second radiologist SPCI > or = 7 and N > or = 4 were associated with particularly poor outcome. Additionally, the presence of ileocaecal region involvement and, depending on the radiologist, the occurrence of tumour deposits in the left subdiaphragmatic area on CT appeared to be unfavourable prognostic signs.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic value of preoperative conventional CT appeared to be radiologist dependent and may, therefore, be of limited value in selecting colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis who will not benefit from extensive cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC.

Pharmacological principles of intraperitoneal and bidirectional chemotherapy

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is associated with a significant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefit and can, alone or in combination with systemic chemotherapy (bidirectional chemotherapy), be used for treating primary and secondary peritoneal surface malignancies. Due to the peritoneal-plasma barrier, high intraperitoneal drug concentration can be achieved by intraperitoneal chemotherapy, whereas systemic concentration remains low. Bidirectional chemotherapy may provide in addition adequate drug concentrations from the side of the subperitoneal space to the peritoneal tumour nodules. Major pharmacological problems of intraperitoneal chemotherapy are limited tissue penetration and poor homogeneity of drug distribution to the entire seroperitoneal surface. Significant pharmacological determinants of intraperitoneal chemotherapy are choice of drug, drug dosage, solution volume, carrier solution, intra-abdominal pressure, temperature, duration, mode of administration, extent of peritonectomy and interindividual variability. Drugs most commonly applied for intraperitoneal chemotherapy include mitomycin C, cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, 5-fluoruracil, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin, premetrexed and melphalan. The drugs and their doses that are used vary widely among centres. While the adequate drug choice for intraperitoneal and bidirectional chemotherapy is essential, randomized clinical trials to determine the most optimal drug or drug combination are lacking, and only eight retrospective comparative clinical studies are available. Further clinical pharmacological studies are required to determine the most effective drug regimen for intraperitoneal and bidirectional chemotherapy in various indications. In the future, reliable drug sensitivity testing and genetic profiling of peritoneal metastases will be needed for enabling patient-specific therapy.

Pregnancy after breast cancer. A comprehensive review

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment has become an important issue since many young breast cancer patients have not completed their family. Generally, these patients should not be discouraged to become pregnant when they want to, since published data suggest no adverse effect of pregnancy on survival. As fertility may be impaired by chemotherapy, different fertility preserving strategies have been developed. Births seem to sustain no adverse effects, while breastfeeding appears to be feasible and safe.

Treatment of ovarian cancer using intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes: from laboratory bench to bedside

The combination of a taxane, paclitaxel or docetaxel, and a platinum compound has become the systemic chemotherapy of choice for primary ovarian cancer and has demonstrated high efficacy. However, ultimately most patients will die from this disease. Hence, there is a need for even more effective systemic chemotherapy or different treatment strategies. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes is such an alternative treatment option. Ovarian cancer is theoretically an attractive malignancy for this regional treatment, because the disease remains largely confined to the peritoneal cavity. The choice of taxanes for this kind of chemotherapy is rational, because of its high activity against ovarian cancer cells and expected favourable pharmacokinetics because of limited absorption from the peritoneal cavity due to their large molecular weight and first-pass effect in the liver. In animal model and human pharmacokinetic studies, very high intraperitoneal drug concentrations and exposure and high peritoneal tumour concentrations were achieved, while systemic drug levels were low. The combination of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with hyperthermia enhances the penetration and cytotoxic activity of many drugs. Although data concerning thermal enhancement of taxane cytotoxicity are inconsistent, experimental studies show that at high locoregional concentrations there seems to be such an effect. Recently, feasibility and efficacy of this treatment have evidently been demonstrated in various clinical studies. A large randomized trial revealed improvement of outcome by intraperitoneal instillation chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin as first-line treatment. Moreover, promising results have been observed after intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with docetaxel for recurrent disease.

Treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy-current perspectives

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (ptc) represents advanced malignant disease and has generally been associated with a grim prognosis. Peritoneal surface malignancy is often the major source of morbidity and mortality; it is of major concern in cancer management. Although ptc is categorized as metastatic disease, it represents a special disease pattern considered to be a locoregional disease limited to the abdominal cavity. The combination of cytoreductive surgery (crs) and intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (hipec) has successfully been used as locoregional treatment for selected patients with ptc from gastric, colorectal, and ovarian cancer; with mesothelioma; and with pseudomyxoma peritonei. In the prophylactic setting, hipec can also be used to prevent ptc in high-risk patients, and the first results of the "second-look" approach are promising. Patient selection-in which the risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality, which are analogous to those for any other major gastrointestinal surgery, are assessed-is of utmost importance. Those risks have to be weighed against the anticipated survival benefit, which depends mainly on tumour biology, extent of disease, and probability of achieving complete crs. The present review discusses the principles of crs and hipec, the most significant recent clinical data, and current perspectives concerning the application of this treatment modality in various malignancies. Ongoing trials and future directions are noted. It appears that the combination of crs and hipec is an indispensable tool in the oncologist's armamentarium.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes for ovarian cancer with peritoneal dissemination

Paclitaxel and docetaxel are currently the two clinically available taxanes. The combination of a taxane and a platinum compound has become the systemic chemotherapy of choice for primary ovarian cancer. Despite the high activity of these drugs in systemic chemotherapy, the majority of patients with advanced ovarian cancer will develop recurrent disease and ultimately decease of this disease. Therefore, more effective systemic chemotherapy regimens or alternative treatment modalities are warranted. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is such an alternative treatment option. Pharmacokinetic studies on intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel and docetaxel demonstrated very high locoregional drug concentrations and exposure. Their activity and response seem to be dose-dependent and hence higher efficacy with limited systemic toxicity is to be expected. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may be combined intraoperatively with hyperthermia, which enhances tissue penetration and cytotoxic activity of many drugs. The data concerning thermal enhancement of taxanes are inconsistent, but at the high locoregional concentrations provided by intraperitoneal drug administration such a thermal enhancement seems to exist. Clinical studies have clearly demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of intraperitoneal instillation chemotherapy with taxanes in patients with ovarian cancer. Preliminary results of a phase III study demonstrated improved outcome with the addition of intraperitoneal instillation chemotherapy to systemic chemotherapy after optimal primary cytoreductive surgery. Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with docetaxel has been performed in a single study, in which promising results were observed. Further clinical investigations with an adequate follow-up period are needed to confirm the promising initial results and to determine the exact efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with these drugs.

Pharmacokinetic study of docetaxel in intraoperative hyperthermic i.p. chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of docetaxel in continuous hyperthermic perfusion peritoneal chemotherapy (CHPPC) after cytoreductive surgery for peritoneal involvement of gynecological malignancies, mainly ovarian cancer. Eighteen patients, with a mean age of 64 years (range 51-80), underwent cytoreductive surgery and subsequent CHPPC with 75 mg/m2 docetaxel at 41-43 degrees C. One patient was treated twice. In eight cases, peritoneal fluid and blood samples were obtained for pharmacokinetic analysis. Death occurred in two heavily pretreated elderly patients with a high volume i.p. tumor recurrence, probably reflecting poor patient selection (mortality rate 10.5%). Other complications, mainly minor, were recorded after 63% of the procedures. Hematological docetaxel-induced toxicity was limited, while the incidence of wound complications was relatively high and probably caused by the direct exposure of the wound to docetaxel during CHPPC. The maximal i.p. versus plasma concentration ratio ranged from 17 to 95 (average 45), while the i.p. versus systemic exposure ratio varied between 105 and 555 (average 207). We conclude that the use of docetaxel in CHPPC following cytoreductive surgery seems feasible and results in a high i.p. versus systemic exposure ratio. The AUC for the peritoneal cavity is on average 13-27 times higher after i.p. administration of 75 mg/m2 during CHPPC than the AUC achieved in the systemic compartment after i.v. administration of the recommended dose of 100 mg/m2, while docetaxel-induced systemic toxicity is highly limited.

The evolving management of small bowel adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is rare despite the fact that the small bowel represents the longest part and has the largest surface of all alimentary tract sections. Its incidence is 50-fold lower than that of colorectal carcinoma. It is often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to atypical and late symptoms, its low index of suspicion, difficult endoscopic access and poor detection by radiological imaging, resulting in impaired outcome. Due to its rarity and being molecularly a unique intestinal cancer, data regarding its optimal management are relatively sparse.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A PubMed search was performed to identify relevant manuscripts that were recently published. Emerging data regarding the pathogenesis, the diagnosis and the treatment of SBA that resulted from recent research are discussed in this comprehensive review.

RESULTS

Genomic analysis has demonstrated that SBA is a molecularly unique intestinal cancer. Double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy are novel techniques which may result in earlier diagnosis and consequently in improvement of the generally poor prognosis. For clinically localized disease, the quality of surgery has recently been defined, with removal of at least 8-10 lymph nodes correlating with improved prognosis. Moreover, adjuvant chemotherapy seems to improve outcome of stage III disease. The combination of a fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin appears to be the most effective systemic chemotherapy for disseminated disease. Genomic profiling can identify potentially targetable genomic alterations in a significant proportion of SBA patients. The role of administration of targeted agents or immune checkpoint inhibitors is still unknown and subject of ongoing clinical trials. In the common case of peritoneal metastases, recent studies have shown that cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy may be an attractive treatment option in selected patients.

CONCLUSIONS

SBA is a rare and unique malignancy, whose diagnostic approach and treatment are evolving, resulting in improved outcome.

Treatment of advanced malignant eccrine poroma with locoregional chemotherapy

Malignant eccrine poroma is a rare disease with approximately 200 cases reported in the literature. Regional cutaneous and systemic metastases are rarely observed and their management has been generally unsuccessful. We report on a case in which topical 5-fluorouracil application and intra-arterial chemotherapy with docetaxel resulted in a histologically confirmed complete response of multiple regional skin metastases for more than 2 years. Despite intravenous administration of docetaxel, slow progression of systemic disease was observed.

Limited cardiotoxicity after extensive thoracic surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cisplatin

BACKGROUND

Recently, pleural mesothelioma has been treated by cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cisplatin. The well-established cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin and distressing data from an animal study raised concern about its impact on cardiac function. In the present study, early cardiotoxicity of this treatment modality was prospectively analyzed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 13 pleural mesothelioma patients, cardiotoxicity was monitored by clinical examination, electrocardiography, Troponin levels, cardiac ultrasonography, and estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by radionuclide ventriculography before and during the first 6 months after cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy with doxorubicin (25-54 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (65-120 mg/m(2)).

RESULTS

No clinical cardiac failure or treatment-related death was observed. In two patients transient atrial fibrillation was noted; one associated with pulmonary emboli. Early posttreatment Troponin release was not of predictive value. Ultrasonography did not reveal significant alterations. LVEF decreased significantly (mean 0.07 or 11%, P = .001) during the first 3 months and remained stable thereafter. In univariate analysis, the degree of LVEF reduction was statistically related to maximal intrathoracic doxorubicin concentration (P = .031) and total cisplatin dose (P = .029). Direct exposure of the heart to the drugs as a result of partial pericardectomy was not associated with greater LVEF decrease. On the contrary, partial pericardectomy seemed to be associated with a smaller LVEF decline than when the pericardium remained intact (P = .045). In this small series, no statistically significant correlation between other treatment or pharmacokinetic parameters and LVEF decline was found. Notably, higher doxorubicin plasma concentrations and exposure were not associated with increased LVEF reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Early cardiotoxicity is limited after this treatment modality using substantial doses of doxorubicin and cisplatin. Hence, this study suggests that intrathoracic chemotherapy with doxorubicin and/or cisplatin may be used for primary and secondary pleural malignancies, even immediately after extensive thoracic surgery, without concern of severe early cardiotoxicity.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer: rationale and clinical data

The outcome of ovarian cancer remains poor with conventional therapy. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has some advantages over systemic chemotherapy, including favorable pharmacokinetics and optimal treatment timing. Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) provides improved exposure of the entire seroperitoneal surface to the agent and utilizes the direct cytoxic and drug-enhancing effect of hyperthermia. While standard normothermic, nonintraoperative, intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been demonstrated to be beneficial in randomized trials and meta-analyses, there are no data from randomized HIPEC trials available yet. Cautious extrapolation of data from standard normothermic, nonintraoperative, intraperitoneal chemotherapy and data from Phase II and nonrandomized comparative studies suggest that HIPEC delivered at the time of surgery for ovarian cancer has definite potential. Data from ongoing randomized HIPEC trials to adequately answer the question of whether the addition of HIPEC actually prolongs survival in patients with peritoneal dissemination of primary and recurrent ovarian cancer are awaited in the near future.

The extent of lymph node dissection for gastric cancer: a critical appraisal

The extent of lymphadenectomy during therapeutic gastrectomy for gastric cancer remains a protracted and controversial issue. While traditionally extended lymphadenectomy is performed in Eastern Asia, limited lymphadenectomy is advocated by most western surgeons. Two large western randomized trials, meta-analyses and a recent systematic review were unable to demonstrate overall benefit from extended lymphadenectomy. In this review, the currently available data on this topic are critically evaluated, while ongoing studies and future perspective are discussed.

Super giant basal cell carcinoma of the abdominal wall: still possible in the 21st century

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is very common and usually encountered when it is small in size. Giant BCC (i.e. greater than 5 cm in diameter) is quite rare and comprises 0.5 percent of all BCC. Extremely rarely, tumors larger than 20 cm have been reported. Herein, a case with an enormous, vegetating BCC of the abdominal wall, 30 x 20 cm in size, is described. This report demonstrates that such a case can still be observed in the civilized world of the 21st century, which remains profoundly astonishing. A literature survey was performed and revealed only 7 cases with such super giant BCC (i.e. larger than 20 cm in diameter). Generally, this tumor attains these enormous proportions due to neglect on the patient's part, and is usually located at sites covered by clothes. Treatment is mainly surgical and generally curative, resulting also in an improved quality of life. Tumor size of more than 10 cm in diameter is associated with increased risk for metastatic disease, severe morbidity and consequently impaired prognosis.

Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with external pancreatic remnant drainage

BACKGROUND

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the mainstay of surgical treatment for various benign and malignant diseases of the head of the pancreas and the periampullar region. The incidence of postoperative morbidity remains significantly high. Various modifications have been advocated for the restoration of the digestive continuity and drainage of bile and pancreatic ducts in order to diminish this high morbidity rate.

METHODS

A new modification with the combination of an end-to-end duodenojejunal anastomosis and creation of an external pancreatic fistula following pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy is described. Our initial experience with this modification in seven patients is reported and its advantages are discussed.

RESULTS

There was no mortality, while morbidity was 29%, including postoperative pneumonia and psychosis in one patient, and intra-abdominal abscess in another patient. No significantly delayed gastric emptying was observed and no patient developed diabetes, anastomotic ulcer or reflux cholangitis postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

The reported technique seems to be a safe modification of restoration after pancreaticoduodenectomy, with maintenance of anatomical gastrointestinal continuity, avoidance of complications from anastomosis with the pancreatic remnant, as well as maintenance of endocrine pancreatic function. However, long-term follow-up and larger comparative studies are needed to evaluate the impact of this modification on morbidity and mortality, including long-term nutritional complications.

The current role of secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer represents worldwide the second most frequent and the most fatal gynecological malignancy, with approximately two thirds of the patients presenting with advanced disease. Cytoreductive surgery, primary or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard of care for these patients. Despite the improvement in quality of cytoreductive surgery as well as development of novel drugs and chemotherapy regimens, still most women with ovarian cancer will ultimately develop recurrent disease and die of their disease. In contrast to the management of primary disease, the standard treatment of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer remains a topic of debate. While platinum-based or second line systemic chemotherapy, depending on the time after last platinum treatment, is standard of care, the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery has been a controversial issue for the last decades. Potential outcome benefit must be also weighed against the risk of severe surgical morbidity, impairment of quality of life and costs. In platinum-resistant recurrent disease, i.e., relapse after less than 6 months from the last platinum-based chemotherapy for primary disease, secondary cytoreduction seems generally not to be indicated due to its aggressive biological behavior and the absence of effective systemic treatment. In this comprehensive review, the current role of cytoreductive surgery in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer is discussed thoroughly in view of the results of most recent randomized trials and a meta-analysis. There seems to be definitely a role for secondary cytoreductive surgery in selected patients with ovarian cancer recurrence in whom complete resection of macroscopic disease is feasible. However, its role should be continuously reviewed due to the changing systemic treatment of patients with ovarian cancer recurrence over time.

Hyperthermia During Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy With Paclitaxel or Docetaxel for Ovarian Cancer: Is There Any Benefit?

BACKGROUND/AIM

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes provides high locoregional drug concentrations. Regarding their synergy with hyperthermia, results have been inconclusive. In this in vitro study, the thermal enhancement of the effect of paclitaxel and docetaxel on ovarian cancer cells under conditions mimicking those during hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cisplatin-resistant SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells were exposed for 2 h to 0.1, 1 and 3 μΜ of paclitaxel and docetaxel at 37°C (normothermia) and 41.5°C (hyperthermia). Cell proliferation and cell-cycle distribution were evaluated after 24 h, 3 days and 7 days.

RESULTS

A concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on cell proliferation was observed. Concurrent hyperthermia caused an increased arrest of cells in the G2/M phase. At 7 days, thermal enhancement of drug effect was shown only for treatment of OVCAR-3 cells with 1 μM paclitaxel.

CONCLUSION

The concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel and docetaxel supports their intraperitoneal use. Due to the lack of or only minimal thermal enhancement, normothermic may be as effective as hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy with taxanes, avoiding, however, potential oncological and treatment-related adverse effects of concurrent hyperthermia.

A giant pregnancy-associated intra-abdominal desmoid tumour: not necessarily a contraindication for subsequent pregnancy

Desmoid tumours are rare mesenchymal tumours, often locally invasive and characteristically associated with a high local recurrence rate after resection. A potential aetiological role for female hormones is indicated. Pregnancy-associated desmoid tumours are almost exclusively located in the abdominal wall. An essential issue is how to counsel women who have had a pregnancy-associated desmoid tumour and subsequently wish to bear a child. A considerably rare case of a patient with a resection of a giant pregnancy-associated, 33 cm in diameter, intra-abdominal desmoid tumour is presented. After a subsequent pregnancy, the patient delivered healthy twins 26 months later. Fifty-four months after treatment, there are no signs of recurrent or second desmoid tumour. Although rarely located in the abdomen, pregnancy-associated desmoid tumours should be included in the differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal tumours detected during or shortly after pregnancy. Based on this case and a few others reported in the literature, subsequent pregnancy does not necessarily seem to be a risk factor for recurrent or new disease.

Complications and toxicity after abdominal and pelvic hypoxic stop-flow perfusion chemotherapy: incidence and assessment of risk factors

BACKGROUND

Controversial results regarding the efficacy and toxicity of hypoxic abdominal and pelvic stop-flow perfusion chemotherapy (SFP) have been reported in relatively small series. Hence, because adequate assessment of its benefit in large homogenous cohorts is missing, acceptable morbidity should initially be assured in a series of adequate size. Additionally, risk factors should be assessed for eventual patient selection.

METHODS

The morbidity of abdominal and pelvic SFP performed on a miscellaneous group of patients in our institute was analyzed and potential risk factors for adverse events were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventy abdominal (n = 42) and pelvic (n = 28) SFP were performed on 55 patients. In total, 28 adverse effects were observed after 30% of the procedures. Severe (grade 3) adverse events were recorded only after 4% of the procedures, while treatment-related life-threatening events and deaths were not present. Abdominal procedures when compared with pelvic ones were associated with increased systemic toxicity (36 vs. 7%, p = 0.005). Advanced age, gender, prior chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, limited experience, repeated procedure, drug choice and omission of hemofiltration after SFP completion were not associated with statistically significant increase of procedures with overall or systemic adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present series, abdominal and pelvic SFP was associated with an acceptable morbidity, which was mostly mild or moderate. Abdominal procedures were associated with increased toxicity. This procedure seems to be repeatable and also well tolerated both by elderly patients and by patients who had undergone prior chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, while hemofiltration does not appear to decrease the incidence of systemic toxicity.

Late local, peritoneal and systemic recurrence of renal angiomyolipoma: A case report

Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a relatively rare tumor that is generally considered as merely benign. However, epithelioid AML (EAML), an uncommon subtype, is associated with potentially malignant behavior. We herein present the case of a 60-year old male patient who had undergone left nephrectomy with left adrenalectomy and lymphadenectomy for a renal tumor 12 years earlier, and presented to our hospital with dull abdominal pain. The histology report after the previous surgery had revealed an AML of the left kidney with a maximal diameter of 17 cm. Imaging studies demonstrated a large tumor of 13 cm in diameter in the area of the resected kidney, as well as hepatic and peritoneal metastases. Computed tomography-guided core needle biopsy of the mass and revision of the histology of the nephrectomy revealed an EAML. Four years after a two-stage resection of the recurrences the patient is in excellent condition and free of disease. From this case report and the literature review on EAML, it appears that correct histological diagnosis of this subtype of renal AML is crucial. Erroneous diagnosis of simple renal AML instead of EAML may lead to insufficient postoperative management. Clinicians should be aware of the malignant potential of EAML and the need for long-term follow-up. As effective surgical and emerging medical treatment options are available, timely detection of recurrent disease may lead to improved outcome.

Adipose tissue fatty acid composition in Greek patients with breast cancer versus those with benign breast tumors

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid composition of adipose tissue is a most reliable biomarker of long-term dietary fatty acid intake. Few studies have implemented biomarkers of fatty acid intake in relation to breast cancer. In this study the relation between adipose tissue composition and breast cancer was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fatty acid composition in breast and buttock adipose tissue from 94 Greek women with breast cancer and 57 with benign breast tumors was determined. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the association between fatty acid groups and breast cancer risk.

RESULTS

In pre-menopausal women, elevated total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in breast adipose tissue and N-3 PUFA in buttock adipose tissue were associated with reduced odds of breast cancer (odds ratio, OR=0.19; 95% confidence interval, CI=0.05-0.76, p<0.02 and OR=0.02; 95% CI=0.0009-0.36, p<0.009).

CONCLUSION

Adipose total PUFA and N-3 PUFA were inversely-related to breast cancer risk in Greek pre-menopausal women. These results may have specific impact on habitual fat intake recommendations.

Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with docetaxel as second-line treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis of gynaecological origin

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery with continuous hyperthermic perfusion peritoneal chemotherapy (CHPPC) is a relatively new multimodality treatment for peritoneal malignancies. We studied the feasibility and outcome of CHPPC with docetaxel as second-line treatment for gynaecological peritoneal carcinomatosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty times CHPPC with docetaxel was performed in 19 patients, mean age of 65 years (47-80), who demonstrated early recurrent or persistent peritoneal carcinomatosis mainly of ovarian origin.

RESULTS

Treatment-related death was noted in 2 elderly patients with a high tumour load. Two other major complications, requiring re-operation, were recorded. Haematological docetaxel-induced toxicity was highly limited, while the wound complication rate was relatively high. Ascites disappeared in all patients. After a mean follow-up of 30 months, the actuarial overall 1- and 3-year survival rates after CHPPC were 79% and 63%.

CONCLUSION

CHPPC with docetaxel following cytoreductive surgery for early recurrent or persistent peritoneal carcinomatosis from gynaecological malignancies seems feasible and might have a positive impact on survival. The outcome seems to be superior to that of CHPPC with other drugs.