Low risk of complications associated with the fenestrated peritoneal catheter used for intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

Intraperitoneal ports placed at the time of bowel resection for treatment of ovarian cancer: Complications and surgical outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To determine if intraperitoneal (IP) ports placed concurrently with bowel resection during surgical treatment of ovarian cancer is associated with more complications than those ports placed without concurrent bowel resection.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients who had an IP port placed at our institution between 2005 and 2016 were reviewed. Two groups were analyzed: IP ports placed with bowel resection (IP-BR) and those without (IP).

RESULTS

Of 306 patient charts reviewed, 31% had a surgery with IP port placement and concurrent bowel resection (IP-BR). Demographics were similar except for mean BMI (25.6 IP-BR vs 27.4 IP, p = 0.007). More IP-BR patients had stage IIIC disease (83.3% IP-BR vs 56.9% IP, p ≤0.01). Patients were cytoreduced to R0 in 48.7% IP-BR vs 56.4% IP (p = 0.253). For adjuvant treatment, IV chemotherapy was administered before IP chemotherapy in 90.4% IP-BR (median 2 cycles), and 50.3% IP, (median 2 cycles, p < 0.01). Ultimately 80.2% IP-BR (median 4 cycles) and 77.8% IP (median 5 cycles) received IP chemotherapy (p = 0.65). Rates of total IP port complications were similar (19.2% IP-BR vs 23.2% IP, p = 0.397), including IP port infections (0% IP-BR vs 0.7% IP, p = 0.5). Eleven percent of IP-BR patients had a bowel complication (e.g. obstruction or perforation) while IP port was in situ vs 2.7% IP (p = 0.01). Only 2.7% IP-BR and 6% IP discontinued IP chemotherapy due to IP port complication (p = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who have IP ports placed concurrently with a bowel resection do not appear to have more complications, nor lower rates of IP chemotherapy administration.

Multiplex profiling identifies distinct local and systemic alterations during intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

OBJECTIVES

Ovarian cancer leads to abdominal carcinomatosis and late stage (III/IV) diagnosis in 75% of patients. Three randomized phase III trials have demonstrated that intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy improves outcomes in epithelial ovarian cancer. While IP treatment is validated by clinical trials, there is a poor understanding of the mechanism(s) leading to the survival advantage other than the increased concentration of cytotoxic drugs within the tumor microenvironment. A better understanding of this process through analysis of dynamic biomarkers should promote novel approaches that may enhance tumor clearance. We propose this pilot study to confirm the feasibility of collecting serial peritoneal samples from implanted catheters in women receiving IP chemotherapy. We believe these specimens may be used for multiplex analysis to reveal unique biomarker fluctuations when compared to peripheral blood.

METHODS

From 13 women participating on GOG 252, 30 whole blood, 12 peritoneal fluid (PF), and 20 peritoneal wash (PW) with 30mL saline were obtained. Samples were requested prior to the first three chemotherapy cycles. Samples were assessed for volume, cell populations, protein, RNA, and miRNA content changes.

RESULTS

Median volume for PF was 1.6mL and 3.1mL for PW. PW is a dilution of PF capable of capturing measurable biomarkers. Peritoneal aspirates contain a unique profile of biomarkers distinct from blood. miRNA undergo earlier alteration with chemotherapy than genes. Flow cytometry does not adequately capture biomarker fluctuations.

CONCLUSIONS

As a proof of principle study, this trial provides evidence that sampling the peritoneal cavity can be adapted for biomarker analysis.

Prognostic significance of the number of postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy cycles for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

Phase 3 trials have demonstrated a survival advantage for patients with optimally debulked epithelial ovarian cancer who received intravenous (IV) and intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy compared with IV therapy alone. This was despite a significant proportion of patients in the IV/IP arms not completing all 6 planned cycles. Our objective was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the number of IV/IP cycles administered.

METHODS/MATERIALS

Data were analyzed for all patients with stage III to IV epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent optimal primary cytoreduction followed by 1 or more cycles of IV/IP chemotherapy from January 2005 to July 2011 at our institution. A landmark analysis was performed to associate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with the number of IV/IP cycles given.

RESULTS

We identified 201 patients; 26 (13%) received 1 to 2 cycles of IV/IP chemotherapy, 41 (20%) received 3 to 4 cycles, and 134 (67%) received 5 to 6 cycles. The 5-year PFS for patients who received 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6 cycles was 18%, 29%, and 17%, respectively. The 5-year OS for patients who received 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6 cycles was 44%, 54%, and 57%, respectively. There was no significant difference in PFS (P = 0.31) or OS (P = 0.14) between the 3 groups. The most common reason for discontinuing IV/IP therapy was treatment-related toxicity (77%). Postoperative complications were the most common reason for not initiating IV/IP therapy (42%) in patients who subsequently transitioned to it.

CONCLUSIONS

We did not detect a significant survival difference between patients who received 1 to 2, 3 to 4, or 5 to 6 IV/IP chemotherapy cycles. Women may still derive a survival benefit if they receive fewer than 6 IV/IP cycles.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy by ultrasound-guided direct puncture in recurrent ovarian cancer: feasibility, compliance, and complications

OBJECTIVE

This prospective pilot study investigated the feasibility, complications, and compliance of the administration of intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy by direct puncture under ultrasonographic guidance performed on consecutive patients with recurrent ovarian cancer (ROC).

METHODS

Patients were evaluated to undergo secondary cytoreduction and/or to receive IP chemotherapy. Patients received standard intravenous therapy for ROC plus IP administration by direct puncture needle, under ultrasonographic guidance.

RESULTS

From January 2008 to January 2011, 38 patients were enrolled. A total of 402 IP procedures were performed, with a mean of 10.5 procedures per patient. The feasibility rate was 97.4%. In 237 cases (98.8%) of subgroup 1 (abdominal wall thickness ≤6 cm), the procedure was performed after 1 attempt, meanwhile in 6% of cases of subgroup 2 (abdominal wall thickness >6 cm), more than 1 attempt was necessary (P < 0.01). The mean procedure time was 10 minutes (range, 5-30 minutes). We recorded a total of 2.25% mild intraprocedure complications. No significant difference was identified for the complication rate according to the abdominal wall thickness or according to the number of previous laparotomies. A total of 5 procedures (1.2%) were not performed as a result of patients' noncompliance. The mean pain score according to the visual analog pain scale was moderate at the first evaluation (after 3 minutes) and mild at the final evaluation (after 10 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of IP chemotherapy with a direct puncture, under ultrasound guidance, for patients with ROC, is a safe and feasible method, with a high acceptance from patients.

Surgical management of epithelial ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer affects approximately 21,880 women and accounts for over 13,000 deaths annually in the United States. Although survival rates have improved over the past several decades, directly as a result of advances in chemotherapy and surgery, ovarian cancer continues to have high mortality rates. Understanding the multiple roles of surgery throughout the disease course is the focus of this review.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer - single center experience

Majority of intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy complications were related to the chemoport. Aim of our study was to find the means of reducing complications of IP chemoport, to increase the benefits of IP chemotherapy. During January 2007 to December 2010, hundred consecutive patients of stage III epithelial ovarian cancer who had optimal cytoreduction underwent chemoport insertion during laparotomy. Initial 20 cases had 14.3F Bard IP chemoport, and later cases had 9.6Fr single lumen venous port inserted intraperitoneally. Entry point into the peritoneum was single, 6 cm lateral to the umbilicus and double purse-string suture taken around the catheter to prevent peri-catheter backflow of ascitic fluid or drug. Modified IP chemotherapy regimen (SWOG-9912 trial) was used. Age of the patient ranged from 34 years to 76 years. In total 600 cycles, 516 cycles (86 %) were completed. Seventy patients (70 %) received all the 6 cycles by IP route. Two in the initial 10 patients had vaginal leak, for whom first 2 cycles were given by IV route and then shifted to IP route. Subsequently all cases had double layer closure of vaginal vault. Nine patients (9 %) had port related complications, in which 8 were transient. Catheter block was seen in 5 cases, of which 4 salvaged by heparin injection lock for 2 h and in subsequent cases IV port access catheter with valve replaced the fenestrated IP catheter. None of the IV catheters had the block. Four cases had backflow of fluid around catheter collecting around the port chamber site. Two patients had severe abdominal pain due to dense adhesions and further cycles were completed by IV route. Cisplatin was replaced with carboplatin in 5 cases with severe toxicity. Longest follow-up is 4 years with median follow up of 1.8 years.70 % are disease free on follow up. Local recurrence rate was 18 and systemic in 8 cases. Mortality rate is 4 %. Complications of IP ports are low when insertion is done meticulously with a dedicated team. With modified IP dose and drug regimen, side effects are less and most patients can complete all the desired cycles.

Early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy following cytoreductive surgery for appendiceal mucinous neoplasms with isolated peritoneal metastasis

BACKGROUND

Although cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy have been advocated as standard treatment for appendiceal neoplasms with isolated peritoneal metastasis, the optimal method of chemotherapy administration has not been established. At our institution, patients undergoing complete cytoreduction in this setting typically receive multiple cycles of early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe patients with appendiceal neoplasms and peritoneal dissemination treated with complete cytoreductive surgery and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy and to document associated time to progression and morbidity.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective study at a single specialty institution. Hospital and departmental databases were searched for patients presenting with primary appendiceal neoplasms undergoing cytoreductive surgery, placement of intraperitoneal port, and subsequent intraperitoneal chemotherapy from June 1995 to September 2009.

SETTINGS

This study was conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

PATIENTS

We identified 50 patients (30 female), median age 48 (range, 26-66) who met the criteria.

INTERVENTIONS

Cytoreductive surgery, placement intraperitoneal port, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy were performed.

RESULTS

All patients underwent intraperitoneal catheter placement after complete cytoreductive surgery, followed by a median of 4 cycles (range, 1-9) intraperitoneal 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (1000 mg/m daily for 3 days) plus leucovorin (240 mg/m). The median hospital length of stay was 9 days (maximum, 29). Thirty-four percent of the patients experienced complications; 12% experienced major complications (3 abdominal abscesses, 1 deep vein thrombosis, 1 abdominal hemorrhage, and 1 intraperitoneal port malfunction). There were no 30-day mortalities. Five-year recurrence-free interval was observed in 43%. Among 23 patients with recurrence, 18 had a recurrence only within the peritoneum. The median overall survival was 9.8 years.

LIMITATIONS

This is a retrospective study. Many patients had surgery first at other institutions; therefore, pathologic examination of resected material was not possible in every case. Other factors possibly impacting time to recurrence (ie, preoperative chemotherapy, duration between onset of disease and presentation to our institution) varied among patients and were not controlled for. In the absence of a control arm undergoing complete cytoreduction without early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, we did not ascertain whether intraperitoneal chemotherapy confers additional benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytoreductive surgery plus multiple cycles of early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy is safe, achieving survival results similar to published outcomes of other protocols (including hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). Prospective trials are warranted to compare various methods of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in this setting.

Ports and complications for intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivery

Intraperitoneal access ports are essential to the delivery of chemotherapy agents into the peritoneal cavity of women with ovarian cancer, but their malfunction and adverse effects are frequently responsible for the failure to complete planned therapy. Complications, such as obstruction of the catheter, infection, leakage, rotation, retraction, and pain, together with bowel and vaginal perforation, cause delays in treatment, patient suffering and the expenditure of medical resources. A wide variety of ports have been used, including vascular access devices and intraperitoneal access devices. This paper reviews the development and use of ports for intraperitoneal chemotherapy, their complications and reported methods of prevention.

Completion of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer and catheter-related complications

OBJECTIVE

Combination intravenous/intraperitoneal (IV/IP) chemotherapy has been shown in three randomized trials to be superior to IV therapy alone in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer with respect to overall survival (OS). We sought to evaluate the effect of dose modification of IP therapy on completion rates.

METHODS

From November 1999 until August 2008, all optimally debulked, advanced stage ovarian cancer patients who received adjuvant IP chemotherapy at a single institution were reviewed. The primary endpoint was completion of 6 cycles of IP chemotherapy. This rate was compared to published results from GOG 172. A secondary analysis evaluated completion of chemotherapy based on IP catheter type. Statistical analysis was performed with a chi square test with a significance level of p<0.05.

RESULTS

One hundred and three patients received IP chemotherapy during this period. Seventy-five patients received the modified IV/IP chemotherapy regimen. Sixty-two patients (83%) completed all 6 cycles in our cohort compared to 119 patients (42%) reported in GOG 172 (p=0.0001). Fifty-five patients had a fenestrated catheter (F) and 48 had a non-fenestrated (NF) catheter. Eight patients in each cohort discontinued treatment, for a completion rate of 85.5% in NF and 82.3% in F (p=0.79).

CONCLUSIONS

The dose modifications utilized in this study allowed for completion of 6 cycles of adjuvant IP chemotherapy in 83% of patients. Choice of catheter type did not affect completion rates. Continued monitoring of outcomes is planned to compare PFS and OS. The high completion rate may increase acceptance of IP chemotherapy in the community setting.

Intraperitoneal access via direct puncture is an alternative way to deliver intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer

OBJECTIVES

Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy has not been widely accepted in the treatment of ovarian cancer. One of the main reasons is the lack of a convenient and safe way to deliver IP therapy. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of delivering IP chemotherapy via direct puncture using a peripheral venous needle, as well as evaluating the associated risk factors and complications in the primary treatment of ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer.

METHODS

The clinical records of all patients with stage II-IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 01/1995 to 11/2006 were reviewed retrospectively to identify patients who had received IP therapy via direct puncture after primary cytoreduction.

RESULTS

We identified 194 patients, and 121 (62.4%) of them successfully completed six or more cycles of IP chemotherapy, whereas 73 (37.6%) failed. Two (1%) patients ceased IP therapy directly due to IP access related complications and 35 (18.1%) discontinued IP therapy for reasons unrelated to IP access. Old age might be a potential risk factor for IP therapy failure. The IP therapy failure rate in patients over 60 years old was higher than that in patients under or at 60 (57.1% versus 34.3%, P=0.021). Body mass index were not associated with IP therapy failure.

CONCLUSIONS

IP access via direct puncture using a peripheral venous needle could be an alternative and safe way to deliver IP chemotherapy in the primary treatment of ovarian cancer.

Incidence of intestinal obstruction following intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian tubal and peritoneal malignancies

OBJECTIVES

To report the incidence of intestinal obstruction after intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP) in women with ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal malignancies, and determine the frequency of malignant versus adhesion-related obstruction.

METHODS

Patients who were treated with at least one dose of IP chemotherapy between 1986 and 1997, and who had at least 3 month follow-up, were included. Data regarding admissions for gastrointestinal obstruction complaints, radiologic diagnosis of intestinal obstruction and medical or surgical management of obstruction were recorded.

RESULTS

We identified 334 patients; 307 met our inclusion criteria. A total of 104 (34%) patients developed symptomatic intestinal obstruction after IP therapy commenced. The overall incidence of adhesion-related or mechanical bowel obstruction was only 4%. In the group of patients with a mechanical bowel obstruction, the median time to diagnosis of obstruction was 21 months (range, 2-51) after initiation of IP treatment. Surgical intervention to relieve the obstruction was performed in 6 (50%) patients diagnosed with adhesion-related bowel obstruction. Similarly, in those diagnosed with a malignant bowel obstruction, 42 (48%) were taken to the operating room in an attempt to relieve the obstruction.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal obstructions developed in a third of patients who received IP therapy as part of their treatment for advanced ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer. However, the majority of the obstructions are related to progression of malignant intra-abdominal disease. Only 4% of the patients develop intestinal obstruction due to intestinal adhesions after IP treatment.

An outpatient intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimen for advanced ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

To assess the feasibility, associated toxicities, and reasons for early cessation of an outpatient intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy regimen for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer following optimal cytoreductive surgery.

METHODS

Between January 2006 and December 2007, 42 patients with stages IIC-IV epithelial ovarian, tubal, or primary peritoneal cancer who had residual disease <1 cm after cytoreductive surgery were treated with an outpatient IP chemotherapy protocol. Patients received intravenous (IV) docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and IP cisplatin 75-100 mg/m(2) on day 1, followed by IP paclitaxel 60 mg/m(2) on day 8, with the intent to treat patients every 21 days for 6 cycles of chemotherapy. Charts were abstracted for demographic, chemotherapy, and toxicity-related data.

RESULTS

The median age of the 42 patients was 59 years (range 33-70) and the majority of patients had epithelial ovarian cancer (80%), FIGO stage IIIC (83%), and papillary serous histology (74%). Of an intended 252 IP chemotherapy cycles, 172 (68%) were administered. Twenty-nine patients (69%) completed >or=4 cycles and 12 (29%) received all 6 IP cycles. Common grade 3/4 toxicities by patient included neutropenia (43%), infection (21.5%), and gastrointestinal effects (14%). There was one treatment-related death. Reasons for discontinuation were largely chemotherapy (43%) or port (37%) related.

CONCLUSIONS

With supportive measures, such as scheduled hydration and granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, outpatient administration of IP chemotherapy was feasible. This regimen resulted in few hospitalizations or treatment delays and demonstrated less toxicity than previously reported IP chemotherapy regimens. Port-related complications were a leading cause of IP chemotherapy discontinuation.