Pilot study of intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel and oral S-1 for patients with peritoneal metastasis due to advanced gastric cancer

Important Predictive Factors for the Prognosis of Patients With Peritoneal Metastasis of Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND

This study investigated predictive factors for patients with peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer (PMGC) who underwent conversion cytoreductive surgery (C-CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal intraoperative chemotherapy (HIPEC) after responding to induction chemotherapy (laparoscopic HIPEC [LHIPEC]) followed by concomitant systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (bidirectional intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy [BIC]).

METHODS

Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed for 62 patients with PMGC between January 2017 and December 2022. The patients underwent LHIPEC and BIC induction chemotherapy using intraperitoneal docetaxel (30 mg/m2) and cisplatin (30 mg/m2), and intravenous chemotherapy for three cycles. The predictive parameters for progression-free and overall survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. The optimal cutoff values for Ki-67 parameters were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

The study retrospectively examined 36 (58 %) of 62 patients who responded to induction therapy and underwent C-CRS or HIPEC. A Ki-67 index lower than 10 (p = 0.000), lymph node involvement (LNI) less than 2 (p = 0.039), and an omental lesion size score lower than 0.5 cm (p = 0.002) were predictive of recurrence-free and overall survival in addition to completeness of cytoreduction and the peritoneal cancer index. Cox regression analysis showed that the independent factors associated with recurrence-free survival were decreased Ki-67 expression (≥10 % vs <10 %) (hazard ratio [HR] 4.7; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.6-5.210; p = 0.020) and LNI higher than 2 (HR 1.92; 95% CIS 0.923-4.0; p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymph node involvement and decreased Ki-67 expression are independent predictive factors of recurrence-free survival for patients with PMGC after induction chemotherapy.

Utility of Molecular Analysis of Peritoneal Fluid in Staging Laparoscopy of Advanced Esophagogastric Junction and Gastric Cancer Prior to Neoadjuvant Treatment

PURPOSE

Molecular analysis of peritoneal fluid in staging laparoscopy of gastric cancer is performed to improve the detection of free intraperitoneal tumor cells. Nevertheless, its significance is controversial, especially in patients with negative cytology but positive molecular analysis. The aim of this study was to analyze the sensitivity of molecular analysis and its prognostic value.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis from April 2011 to October 2019 was performed. Cytology (Cyt) and molecular analysis were analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) tumor makers.

RESULTS

During the study period, 138 staging laparoscopies were performed. Macroscopic carcinomatosis was found in 12.3%. Of the remaining 87.7%, 9.9% were Cyt + and 11.6% were Cyt- RT-PCR + . Of the latter, 9 responded to chemotherapy and underwent radical surgery. The sensitivity of cytology and molecular analysis was 0.70 and 0.76, respectively (p = 0.67). The 2-year overall survival (OS) of Cyt- RT-PCR + vs. Cyt + was similar (p = 0.1). The 2-year OS of Cyt-RT-PCR + subgroup who underwent radical surgery vs. Cyt-RT-PCR- patients was similar (p = 0.69), but disease-free survival was shorter in the first group (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the sensitivity of molecular analysis is similar to that of cytology. The prognostic value of positive molecular analysis was similar to positive cytology in terms of 2-year overall survival, except in the subgroup of operated patients in whom the overall survival was similar to that of those with a negative molecular analysis, albeit with a shorter disease-free survival.

Preoperative intraperitoneal oxaliplatin for unresectable peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin: a pilot study

Background

Peritoneal carcinomatosis in colorectal cancer is an advanced stage of the disease where improved survival can be attained whenever the resection associated with hyperthermic intreperitoneal chemotherapy is possible. In unresectable cases, systemic chemotherapy is administered to obtain conversion to resectability but results have not yet been clearly evaluated. Local chemotherapy in this setting has been proven useful in several similar situations. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of pre-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin in these patients.

Methods

Six patients with unresectable peritoneal disease of colorectal origin were included in the study. An intraperitoneal implantable chamber catheter was inserted during the laparotomy that evaluated the extent of the peritoneal disease (peritoneal carcinomatosis index 25 to 39). Patients then underwent intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² in combination with systemic chemotherapy (FOLFIRI or simplified LV5FU) and a targeted therapy every 2 weeks.

Results

Two catheter perfusion incidents were reported due to the abdominal wall thickness. Two patients completed the four intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy cycles without major toxicity. One patient developed grade 3 or 4 diarrhea requiring a short intensive care unit (ICU) stay, though it is not clear whether the event was induced by intravenous irinotecan, IP oxaliplatin or the combination of both. Grade 3 fatigue and abdominal pain were also recorded. For one patient with aggressive disease, best supportive care was initiated after the first course of chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to assess intraperitoneal oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in the preoperative setting for patients with unresectable peritoneal metastases. The tolerance was acceptable for 85 mg/m² IP oxaliplatin combined with systemic therapy in these patients. Our results justify carrying on with a phase I/II trial to determine the recommended dose of oxaliplatin in this clinical context and its efficacy.

Laparoscopic narrow-band imaging for the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Staging laparoscopy (SL) is often used to diagnose peritoneal metastasis in patients with advanced gastric cancer, but accurate detection of metastasis can be difficult. We evaluated the usefulness of laparoscopic narrow-band imaging (NBI) versus conventional laparoscopic white-light imaging (WLI) for the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis.

METHODS

We excised 37 white nodules from the parietal peritoneum of 26 patients with gastric cancer and suspected peritoneal metastasis. The WLI and NBI findings were compared with the pathological findings. All the peritoneal lesions examined were observed as white nodules on WLI. Intranodular vessels were evaluated by WLI and NBI for (1) vessel dilatation, (2) vessel tortuousness, (3) vessel heterogeneity, and (4) brown spots.

RESULTS

Each individual abnormal finding had a diagnostic accuracy of less than 79 % with or without NBI. Detection of any one abnormal finding had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 47.8, 85.7, and 62.2 %, respectively, on WLI and 91.3, 71.4, and 83.8 %, respectively, on NBI, for detection of peritoneal metastasis. Detection of any one abnormal finding on NBI plus clear demarcation of the nodule on WLI had a sensitivity of 91.3 %, specificity of 92.9 %, and accuracy of 91.9 % for detection of peritoneal metastasis. Pathological examination showed that a brown spot detected on NBI correlated with dilated vessels around cancer cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor was expressed in 76.2 % of peritoneal metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

NBI was more sensitive for the detection of dilated vessels than WLI. NBI could be a useful tool for the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis during SL.

Prognostic information derived from RT-PCR analysis of peritoneal fluid in gastric cancer patients: results from a prospective multicenter clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to define the clinical significance of the molecular analysis of peritoneal lavage fluid in patients with gastric cancer in a multicenter prospective trial.

METHODS

Quantitative RT-PCR with CEA and CK-20 mRNA as target markers was introduced for peritoneal lavage diagnosis in 141 patients with clinically advanced gastric cancer from 9 different institutes. We then evaluated the prognostic factors in patients and also evaluated predictive markers for peritoneal recurrence in 124 patients without peritoneal metastasis at surgery

RESULTS

Out of the 141 cases, 140 patients were successfully analyzed by RT-PCR of peritoneal lavage fluids. According to multivariate analysis, the combined results of RT-PCR (CEA and CK-20) and CK-20 alone in addition to pathological N (pN)-stage were significantly correlated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed that the RT-PCR (CEA and CK-20) and CEA alone in addition to pathological T-stage, pN-stage, and histological grade were significantly correlated with peritoneal recurrence after surgery.

CONCLUSION

This is the first multicenter prospective study to show that RT-PCR analysis of peritoneal lavage fluid with the combination of CEA and CK-20 markers was useful for predicting overall survival and peritoneal recurrence in patients with clinically advanced gastric cancer.

Frequent development of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer

We detected 7 cases of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in 126 patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer who received combined systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was diagnosed 79-1540 days after the diagnosis of the primary gastric cancer. Patients presenting with various neurological symptoms were diagnosed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology and radiological imaging. Irradiation to the whole brain and spine was performed in 4 patients, and provided palliation and increased survival for 1 patient. Intrathecal chemotherapy and drainage of CSF was performed in 1 patient each, but produced no significant clinical benefit in either of them. Survival after the diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was between 3 and 155 days. As patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer are living longer because of improved chemotherapy, clinicians must recognize the possibility of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis when patients complain of neurological symptoms.

Pilot study of a combination of S-1 and paclitaxel for patients with peritoneal metastasis from gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

This pilot study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with peritoneal dissemination from gastric cancer or positive lavage cytology diagnosed by staging laparoscopy.

METHODS

Sixteen patients were enrolled. Paclitaxel was administered at 120 mg/m(2) on day 1 and S-1 was administered orally at 80 mg/m(2) for 14 consecutive days, followed by a 1-week rest, as one course. After five courses of this therapy, the primary gastric tumors were evaluated and second-look laparoscopy was performed for patients showing partial response or stable disease with clinical benefit.

RESULTS

Partial response or stable disease with clinical benefit was confirmed in seven and five patients, respectively, and these patients underwent second-look laparoscopy. No viable cancer cells were detected on cytopathological investigation during second-look laparoscopy in 9 patients who underwent surgical treatment. The intent-to-treat response rate for gastric tumor was 44% and the rate of disappearance of peritoneal metastasis was 38% (6 cases) at surgery. The median survival time was 555 days. Leucopenia of grade 3 and neutropenia of grade 3 were recognized in two and three patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This chemotherapy regimen may be an acceptable option for patients with peritoneal dissemination. We plan to study this regimen further in gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination.

Intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel solubilized with poly(2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co n-butyl methacrylate) for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of paclitaxel (PTX) is a hopeful therapeutic strategy for peritoneal malignancy. Intravenously (i.v.) injected nanoparticle anticancer drugs are known to be retained in the blood stream for a long time and favorably extravasated from vessels into the interstitium of tumor tissue. In this study, we evaluated the effect of i.p. injection of PTX (PTX-30W), which was prepared by solubulization with water-soluble amphiphilic polymer composed of PMB-30W, a co-polymer of 2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine and n-butyl methacrylate, for peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. In a peritoneal metastasis model with transfer of MKN45P in nude mice, the effect of i.p. administration of PTX-30W was compared with conventional PTX dissolved in Cremophor EL (PTX-Cre). The drug accumulation in peritoneal nodules was evaluated with intratumor PTX concentration and fluorescence microscopic observation. PTX-30W reduced the number of metastatic nodules and tumor volume significantly more than did conventional PTX dissolved in Cremophor EL (PTX-Cre), and prolonged the survival time (P < 0.05). PTX concentration in disseminated tumors measured by HPLC was higher in the PTX-30W than in the PTX-Cre group up to 24 h after i.p. injection. Oregon green-conjugated PTX-30W, i.p. administered, preferentially accumulated in relatively hypovascular areas in the peripheral part of disseminated nodules, which was significantly greater than the accumulation of PTX-Cre. I.p. administration of PTX-30W may be a promising strategy for peritoneal dissemination, due to its superior characteristics to accumulate in peritoneal lesions.