Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Simultaneous Surgical Approach with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in Patients with Concurrent Peritoneal and Liver Metastases of Colon Cancer Origin

Background: Simultaneous liver resection and peritoneal cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) remains controversial today. The aim of the study was to analyze the postoperative outcomes and survival of patients with advanced metastatic colon cancer (peritoneal and/or liver metastases). Methods: Retrospective observational study from a prospective maintained data base. Patients who underwent a simultaneous peritoneal cytoreduction and liver resection plus HIPEC were studied. Postoperative outcomes and overall and disease free survival were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: From January 2010 to October 2022, 22 patients operated with peritoneal and liver metastasis (LR+) were compared with 87 patients operated with peritoneal metastasis alone (LR-). LR+ group presented higher serious morbidity (36.4 vs. 14.9%; p: 0.034). Postoperative mortality did not reach statistical difference. Median overall and disease free survival was similar. Peritoneal carcinomatosis index was the only predictive factor of survival. Conclusions: Simultaneous peritoneal and liver resection is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and hospital stay, but with similar postoperative mortality and OS and disease free survival. These results reflect the evolution of these patients, considered inoperable until recently, and justify the trend to incorporate this surgical strategy within a multimodal therapeutic plan in highly selected patients.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for treating ovarian cancer

ABSTRACT

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been used for decades as a treatment for disseminated abdominal malignancies, including pseudomyxoma peritonei and peritoneal mesothelioma. HIPEC had been used to treat recurrent ovarian cancer only when curative options were lacking, but new data indicate that it may be suitable as a primary treatment for patients with late-stage epithelial ovarian cancer, increasing the recurrence-free time interval and improving quality of life. However, treatment can be challenging because of patient trauma from surgery, combined with the toxicity and high temperature of the chemotherapeutic agents. This article reviews HIPEC and its targeted intraoperative and postoperative management.

How do we perform hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer? -a narrative review

Ovarian malignancy is a leading cause of death caused by gynecologic cancer worldwide because it is mainly found in the advanced stage and recurs in most patients even after cytoreductive surgery and intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. Prevention of recurrence of primary disease and treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer are still remained as major interest and lots of researchers investigate novel treatment to find optimal method. Even though intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy turns out to increase the overall survival, it is not widely used because of adverse event. As an alternative treatment for IP chemotherapy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is emerging a new way. Thanks to much research and use in other cancer species, such as the colorectal cancer cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC is becoming a promising treatment. However, randomized controlled trials and unbiased data in ovarian cancer patients are still needed for the establishment of therapy. Moreover, among the current situation in which treatments such as bevacizumab or PARP inhibitor have been found to be effective and have been widely used, it may be necessary to establish the role in the combination of HIPEC. This article is a comprehensive review of the HIPEC in ovarian cancer to introduce techniques, treatment results, and clinical trials of HIPEC.

Occupational exposure to platinum drugs during intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Biomonitoring and surface contamination

BACKGROUND

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been introduced over the last decade for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis. In this procedure, heated cytotoxic drugs are administered directly into the abdominal cavity, ensuring cancer cells to be exposed while reducing systemic toxicity. More recently, pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC), where the chemotherapeutic drug is injected into the peritoneal cavity as an aerosol under pressure, has been proposed to patients in palliative situation, as a new approach. The amount of drug used is up to 10 fold lower than in HIPEC. The use of cytotoxic drugs poses an occupational risk for the operating room personnel. This study investigated the potential exposure of the medical staff by biomonitoring and surface contamination measurements, during a HIPEC procedure and a PIPAC procedure.

METHOD

Wipe samples were collected from various locations in operating rooms including gloves, hands, devices and floor. Urines samples were collected from 10 volunteers of the medical staff and from a control group. The platinum analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Significant contaminations were observed on the floor, gloves, shoes and devices. However, urinary platinum was below the limit of quantification (<10 ng/L) for more than 50% of samples from the healthcare workers performing HIPEC and PIPAC. Concentrations did not differ significantly from those reported for the control group.

CONCLUSION

There appears to be little risk of exposure to platinum drugs during HIPEC and PIPAC providing the adequate safety measures are implemented.

HIPEC in patients with primary advanced ovarian cancer: Is there a role? A systematic review of short- and long-term outcomes

A systematic review of the studies where HIPEC combined with cytoreductive surgery was used in patients with primary advanced ovarian cancer was performed to understand is there a role for this treatment modality not only in recurrent but in primary advanced ovarian cancer. The results are controversial but there is a strong trend for improvement of the long-term outcomes of patients with primary advanced ovarian cancer after HIPEC.

Changes in Hepatic Blood Flow and Liver Function during Closed Abdominal Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy following Cytoreduction Surgery

BACKGROUND

The increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during closed abdominal hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) leads to major haemodynamic changes and potential organ dysfunction. We investigated these effects on hepatic blood flow (HBF) and liver function in patients undergoing HIPEC following cytoreductive surgery and fluid management guided by dynamic preload indices.

METHODS

In this prospective observational clinical study including 15 consecutive patients, we evaluated HBF by transesophageal echocardiography and liver function by determination of the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR). Friedman's two-way analysis of variance by ranks and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

During HIPEC, HBF was markedly reduced, resulting in the loss of any pulsatile Doppler flow signal in all but one patient. The ICG-PDR, expressed as median (interquartile 25-75), decreased from 23 (20-30) %/min to 18 (12.5-19) %/min (p < 0.001). Despite a generous crystalloid infusion rate (27 (22-35) ml/kg/h), cardiac index decreased during the increased IAP period, inferior vena cava diameter decreased, stroke volume variation and pulse pressure variation increased, lung compliance dropped, and there was an augmentation in plateau pressure. All changes were significant (p < 0.001) and reversed to baseline values post HIPEC.

CONCLUSION

Despite optimizing intravenous fluids during closed abdominal HIPEC, we observed a marked decrease in HBF and liver function. Both effects were transient and limited to the period of HIPEC but could influence the choice between closed or open abdominal cavity procedure for HIPEC and should be considered in similar clinical situations of increased IAP.

Influence of simultaneous liver and peritoneal resection on postoperative morbi-mortality and survival in patients with colon cancer treated with surgical cytoreduction and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy

INTRODUCTION

Cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (HIPEC) has recently been established as the treatment of choice for selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colonic origin. Until recently, the simultaneous presence of peritoneal and hepatic dissemination has been considered a contraindication for surgery. The aim of this paper is to analyze the morbidity, mortality and survival of patients with simultaneous peritoneal and hepatic resection with HIPEC for peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to colon cancer.

METHODS

Between January 2010 and January 2015, 61 patients were operated on, 16 had simultaneous peritoneal and hepatic dissemination (group RH+), and 45 presented only peritoneal dissemination (group RH-).

RESULTS

There were no differences between the groups in terms of demographic data, length of surgery and extension of peritoneal disease. Postoperative grade III-V complications were significantly higher in the RH+ group (56.3 vs. 26.6%; P=.032). For the whole group, mortality rate was 3.2% (two patients in group RH-, and none in group RH+). Patients with liver resection had a longer postoperative stay (14.4 vs. 23.1 days) (P=.027). Median overall survival was 33 months for RH-, and 36 for RH+ group. Median disease-free survival was 16 months for RH-, and 24 months for RH+ group.

CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous peritoneal cytoreduction and hepatic resection resulted in a significantly higher Clavien grade III-V morbidity and a longer hospital stay, although the results are similar to other major abdominal interventions. The application of multimodal oncological and surgical treatment may obtain similar long-term survival results in both groups.

Environmental safety during the administration of Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC)

Background

Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is an innovative technique for intraperitoneal drug delivery. This study investigates the efficacy of the occupational health safety measures taken to prevent exposition of healthcare workers to the toxic chemotherapy aerosol.

Methods

Air samples were taken at the working place of the surgeon and of the anesthetist during 2 PIPAC procedures and analyzed for content of platinum by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Airborne particles were quantified in real time. Biological monitoring was performed in two surgeons after 50 PIPAC by examining blood samples for possible traces of platinum. Analysis was performed by an independent company.

Results

Safety measures included tightly closed abdomen, operating room (OR), ventilation meeting requirements of ISO norm 14644-1 class 5, closed aerosol waste system and remote control of PIPAC administration. No traces of platinum were found in the air of the OR (detection limit of 0.0001 mg/filter). No specific rise in particle concentration was detected in the air during the PIPAC procedure, patient closure and removal of the sterile drapes. Blood samples of the surgeons showed no traces of platinum.

Conclusions

After implementation of adequate safety measures, no signs of environmental contamination or biological exposure of the surgeons were detected during PIPAC.

Best practice for perioperative management of patients with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC

Due to the significantly improved outcome and quality of life of patients with different tumor entities after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC, there is an increasing number of centers performing CRS and HIPEC procedures. As this procedure is technically challenging with potential high morbidity and mortality, respectively, institutional experience also in the anesthetic and intensive care departments is essential for optimal treatment and prevention of adverse events. Clinical pathways have to be developed to achieve also good results in more comorbid patients with border line indications and extensive surgical procedures. The anesthesiologist has deal with relevant fluid, blood and protein losses, increased intraabdominal pressure, systemic hypo-/hyperthermia, and increased metabolic rate in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC. It is of utmost importance to maintain or restore an adequate volume by aggressive substitution of intravenous fluids, which counteracts the increased fluid loss and venous capacitance during this procedure. Supplementary thoracic epidural analgesia, non-invasive ventilation, and physiotherapy are recommended to guarantee adequate pain therapy and postoperative extubation as well as fast-track concepts. Advanced hemodynamic monitoring is essential to help the anesthesiologist picking up information about the real-time fluid status of the patient. Preoperative preconditioning is mandatory in patients scheduled for HIPEC surgery and will result in improved outcome. Postoperatively, volume status optimization, early nutritional support, sufficient anticoagulation, and point of care coagulation management are essential. This is an extensive update on all relevant topics for anesthetists and intensivists dealing with CRS and HIPEC.

Operating personnel safety during the administration of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is increasingly used in the treatment of peritoneal malignancies. The administration of HIPEC after complete cytoreduction offers the combination of the pharmacokinetic advantages inherent to the intraperitoneal delivery of cytotoxic chemotherapy, with the direct cytotoxic effects of hyperthermia, and has been reported to offer significantly improved patient outcomes. As a result, this novel method disseminates rapidly, with many surgical teams having developed peritoneal malignancy treatment programs. Protocols are needed for the introduction, handling, and management of chemotherapeutic agents in the operating room to minimize risk to the staff involved in the procedure. The personnel exposure during CRS and HIPEC may arise from different routes, such as air contamination, direct contact, manipulation of perfusates or chemotherapy solutions, and manipulation of objects/tissues exposed to chemotherapeutics. Guidelines for safe administration of HIPEC including environmental contamination risk management, personal protective equipment, and occupational health issues are yet to be established. This review summarizes the existing evidence regarding the safety considerations of HIPEC administration.

Preoperative Preparation and Patient Selection for Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC

Peritoneal dissemination is a significant variable affecting long term survival of abdominal cancer patients. A generally accepted clinical point of view is that peritoneal dissemination is tantamount to distant organ metastases. This implies it to be a terminal condition. Current practice dictates that if peritoneal dissemination is observed intraoperatively, the curative therapeutic options are deferred and comprehensive systemic chemotherapy remains the only option with a dismal prognosis. The past few years have generated lot of interest in management of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Prof Paul Sugarbaker has researched, validated and fine-tuned the concept of cytoreductive surgery with peritonectomy procedure (Sugarbaker technique) and perioperative chemotherapy as HIPEC & EPIC. Recognition of a HIPEC centre is based on an infrastructure equipped with basic knowledge of the tumor biology, oncosurgical techniques, technical knowhow for HIPEC administration, intensive care unit etc. There are some aspects which need to be accorded special consideration. Comprehensive therapy of Cytoreduction surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is initiated with exploration and cytoreductive surgery and includes visceral resections and peritonectomy procedure when achieved optimally results in complete, visible resection of all cancer within the abdomen and pelvis. Subsequent to CRS, HIPEC forms an integral part of the surgical procedure. This approach involves conceptual changes in both the route and timing of chemotherapy administration. Patient selection is of utmost importance. The greatest impediment to lasting benefits from intraperitoneal chemotherapy remains an improper patient selection. Currently, there are four important clinical assessments of peritoneal metastasis that need to be used to select patients ie; histopathological type of tumour, radiological distribution of disease, peritoneal cancer index and completeness of cytoreduction. Patients undergoing HIPEC surgery face the usual physiological insults of a major surgery in addition to the thermal stress secondary to intraperitoneal administration of heated chemotherapy agent. A team approach of everyone involved in care of these patients is known to improve patient outcomes. It has also been observed that with the necessary preoperative & perioperative steps, the morbidity and mortality for this treatment can be brought down as comparable to any other major abdominal surgeries.

Progress in treatments for colorectal cancer peritoneal metastases during the years 2010-2015. A systematic review

Peritoneal metastases (PM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) were traditionally associated with bad prognosis. Only recently, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has resulted in survival improvements. A systematic literature search between January 2010 and June 2015 was performed. Studies were selected and appraised according to predetermined criteria. Nineteen cohort studies, and thirteen comparative studies of CRS/HIPEC were included. The weighted median overall survival was 31.6 months (range 16-51). Major morbidity was 17.6-52.4% (weighted average 32.6%). Mortality was 0-8.1% (weighted average 2.9%). Additional relevant topics, such as CRC-PM prevalence, results by systemic therapies, preoperative work-up, and technical aspects were summarized through a narrative review. The recent literature suggests that CRS/HIPEC is gaining acceptance as standard of care for selected CRC-PM patients. Refinement of selection criteria, and rationalization of comprehensive systemic and local-regional management is ongoing. Prevention and early treatment of PM are new and promising options.

The role of HIPEC in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer: between lights and shadows

Gastric cancer is one of the most dreadful neoplastic diseases and remains the second cause of cancer death worldwide. Patients who develop peritoneal metastasis have a poor prognosis, with a median survival of less than 6 months. Despite being the cause of 60% of deaths from gastric cancer, peritoneal metastasis can still be considered a local disease and a local multidisciplinary approach can improve the prognosis even in this end-stage disease. At present, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the most widely accepted treatment for peritoneal surface diseases and can be performed in patients with different stages of cancer and with various antitumoral drugs. We performed a systematic review of the current status of HIPEC in the treatment of gastric peritoneal metastasis in an attempt to obtain answers to the questions that still remain: do results differ with these different methods? Does HIPEC exert a significant effect on the intracavitary delivery of drugs? Which patients should be treated and which should not? What can we expect from this approach in terms of survival, morbidity, and mortality? On reviewing the literature, despite the lack of trials comparing the different methods, we found that HIPEC has been shown to be an effective tool whenever a complete or an almost complete resection of the peritoneal implants can be performed. Therefore, it is advisable to refer all at-risk patients to specialized centers to be enrolled in randomized trials to achieve truly reliable results.

Validation of an HPLC-MS/MS and wipe procedure for mitomycin C contamination

A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of mitomycin C, an anticancer drug, from contamination on various surfaces. Mitomycin C is often used in various forms of intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and operating room healthcare worker exposure to this drug is possible. The surface testing method consisted of a wiping procedure utilizing a solution of 20/45/35 (v/v/v) of acetonitrile-isopropanol-water made 0.01 M in ammonium citrate (apparent pH 7.0). The wipe solutions were analyzed by means of HPLC-MS/MS using a reversed-phase gradient system and electrospray ionization in positive ion mode with a triple-quadrupole MS detector. Accuracy and precision of this method were demonstrated by a series of recovery studies of both spiked solutions and extracted wipes from various surfaces (stainless steel, vinyl and Formica(®)) spiked with known levels of mitomycin C. Recoveries of spiked solutions containing the analyte demonstrate mean recoveries (accuracy) ranged from 93 to 105%. Precision as measured by the relative standard deviation (% RSD) of multiple samples (n= 10) at each concentration level demonstrated values of 7.5% or less. The recoveries from spiked surfaces varied from 30 to 99%. The limit of detection for this methodology is ∼2 ng/100 cm(2) equivalent surface area, and the limit of quantitation is ∼6 ng/100 cm(2).

Surgical treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis: current treatment modalities

BACKGROUND

Selected patients with peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) have been treated effectively by the combination of cytoreduction surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to summarize the treatment outcomes and general considerations regarding definitions and staging systems of current CRS and HIPEC modalities in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma and in secondary peritoneal malignancies such as peritoneal metastasis from appendiceal, colorectal, gastric, and epithelial ovarian cancers.

CONCLUSION

Disease progression within the peritoneal cavity has in the past been regarded as a terminal event. Accumulating evidence underlines the therapeutic potential and the acceptable morbidity and mortality rates of CRS and HIPEC in selected patients.