Secondary cytoreduction plus oxaliplatin-based HIPEC in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients: a pilot study

Complications of HIPEC for ovarian cancer surgery: evaluation over two time periods

OBJECTIVE

Cytoreductive surgery in conjunction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is being explored in the upfront, interval, and recurrent setting in patients with ovarian cancer. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the rate of complications associated with HIPEC in epithelial ovarian cancer surgery over two time periods.

METHODS

This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022328928). A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Ovid/Medline, Ovid/Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from January 2004 to April 2022. We included studies reporting on patients with advanced primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. We evaluated two different time periods: 2004-2013 and 2014-2022. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to produce an overall summary. Subgroup analyses were planned according to recruited period for each specific complication type. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

A total of 4928 patients were included from 69 studies for this systematic review; 19 published from 2004-2013, and 50 published from 2014-2022. No significant differences were found between the two time periods in terms of blood transfusions (33% vs 51%; p=0.46; I2=95%) overall gastrointestinal complications (15% vs 21%; p=0.36; I2=98%), infectious diseases (16% vs 13%; p=0.62; I2=93%), overall respiratory complications (12% vs 12%; p=0.88; I2=91%), overall urinary complications (6% vs 12%; p=0.06; I2=94%), or thromboembolic events (5% vs 3%; p=0.25; I2=63%). Also, no differences were found in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (89% vs 28%; p=0.06; I2=99%), reoperations (8% vs 7%; p=0.50; I2=37%), or deaths (3% vs 3%; p=0.77; I2=57%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our review showed that overall complications have not changed over time for patients undergoing HIPEC in the setting of primary or recurrent ovarian cancer. There was no decrease in the rates of ICU admissions, reoperations, or deaths.

The 2022 PSOGI International Consensus on HIPEC Regimens for Peritoneal Malignancies: Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND AND AIM

We report the results of an international consensus on hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) regimens for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) performed with the following goals: To define the indications for HIPEC To identify the most suitable HIPEC regimens for each indication in EOC To identify areas of future research on HIPEC To provide recommendations for some aspects of perioperative care for HIPEC METHODS: The Delphi technique was used with two rounds of voting. There were three categories of questions: evidence-based recommendations [using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system with the patient, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) method], an opinion survey, and research recommendations.

RESULTS

Seventy-three (67.5%) of 108 invited experts responded in round I, and 68 (62.9%) in round II. Consensus was achieved for 34/38 (94.7%) questions. However, a strong positive consensus that would lead to inclusion in routine care was reached for only 6/38 (15.7%) questions. HIPEC in addition to interval cytoreductive surgery (CRS) received a strong positive recommendation that merits inclusion in routine care. Single-agent cisplatin was the only drug recommended for routine care, and OVHIPEC-1 was the most preferred regimen. The panel recommended performing HIPEC for a minimum of 60 min with a recommended minimum intraabdominal temperature of 41°C. Nephroprotection with sodium thiosulfate should be used for cisplatin HIPEC.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this consensus should guide clinical decisions on indications of HIPEC and the choice and various parameters of HIPEC regimens and could fill current knowledge gaps. These outcomes should be the basis for designing future clinical trials on HIPEC in EOC.

Complications of cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: An evaluation of 100 cases

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the perioperative outcomes and complications of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis who underwent cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 100 patients operated on between 2016 and 2020. Patients' characteristics, including age, comorbidities, chemotherapy history, treatment failures, cancer type, histology, platinum sensitivity, and perioperative complications, were documented. Perioperative complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

Median age was 58 years and median follow-up time was 16 months. Eighty-six (86%) patients had ovarian cancer; 11 (11%) experienced grade III-IV complications, and the only relevant factor was the presence of multiple metastasis (P = 0.031). Seven patients (7%) had surgical-site infection; in multivariant analyses, only ostomy formation was found as an independent risk factor for surgical-site infection (odds ratio [OR] 14.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-143.52; P = 0.024). Fifteen (15%) patients experienced elevated serum creatinine after surgery and the median time to creatinine elevation was 5 days postoperatively (range 3-15 days). In multivariant analyses, only age of of 58 years or more was found as a significant factor for the elevation of serum creatinine (OR 6.96; 95% CI 1.42-32.81; P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that the presence of multiple metastases increased the risk of grade III-IV complications and age of 58 years or more was the leading risk factor for renal complications. However, we could not find a relation between postoperative complications and oncologic outcomes. HIPEC seems to be a safe approach in experienced hands.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian cancer with peritoneal metastases, systematic review of the literature and focused personal experience

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) causes 60% of ovarian cancer cases and is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in women. The standard of care for EOC includes a combination of surgery followed by intravenous chemotherapy. Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy (CT) has been introduced into the therapeutic algorithm of EOC with positive results. To explore existing results regarding intraperitoneal chemotherapy a systematic review of the literature and an analysis of our own institutional prospective database of patients treated with cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for EOC at different stages were conducted. The focused report concerning our personal experience with advanced EOC treated with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC produced the following results: In 57 patients cisplatin + paclitaxel as HIPEC was the only significant factor improving overall survival (OS) at multivariate analysis (OR 6.54, 95% CI: 1.24-34.47, P=0.027). Patients treated with HIPEC cisplatin + paclitaxel showed a median OS of 46 months (SD 6.4, 95% CI: 33.4-58.6), while patients treated with other HIPEC regimens showed a median OS of 12 months (SD 3.1, 95% CI: 6.0-18.0). The 2y-OS was 72% and 3y-OS was 68% for cisplatin + paclitaxel as HIPEC, while the 2y- and 3y-OS was 0% for other HIPEC regimens. Patients treated with HIPEC cisplatin + paclitaxel showed a median disease-free survival (DFS) of 13 months (SD 1.6, 95% CI: 9.9-16.1), while patients treated with other HIPEC regimens showed a median DFS of 8 months (SD 3.1, 95% CI: 1.9-14.1). In conclusion, HIPEC cisplatin + paclitaxel in ovarian cancer showed positive results that may be considered semi-definitive according to the level of evidence and should be considered a starting point for further investigations. At present HIPEC cisplatin + paclitaxel should be proposed to patients with advanced ovarian cancer as standard treatment at almost all stages of disease. Platinum + taxane-based intraperitoneal regimens demonstrated superior results compared to other regimens.

Current status of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian cancer in the United States

OBJECTIVES

1.) To compare frequency of HIPEC use in ovarian cancer treatment before and after publication of the phase III study by van Driel et al. in January 2018. 2.) To compare associated rates of hospital-based outcomes, including length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, complications, and costs in ovarian cancer surgery with or without HIPEC.

METHODS

We queried Vizient's administrative claims database of 550 US hospitals for ovarian cancer surgeries from January 2016-January 2020 using ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes. Sodium thiosulfate administration was used to identify HIPEC cases according to the published protocol. Student t-tests and relative risk (RR) were used to compare continuous variables and contingency tables, respectively.

RESULTS

152 ovarian cancer patients had HIPEC at 39 hospitals, and 20,014 ovarian cancer patients had surgery without HIPEC at 256 hospitals. Following the trial publication, 97% of HIPEC cases occurred. During the index admission, HIPEC patients had longer median length of stay (8.4 vs. 5.7 days, p < 0.001) and higher percentage of ICU admissions (63.1% vs. 11.0%, p < 0.001) and complication rates (RR = 1.87, p = 0.002). Index admission direct costs ($21,825 vs. $12,038, p < 0.001) and direct cost index (observed/expected costs) (1.87 vs. 1.11, p < 0.001) were also greater in the HIPEC patients. No inpatient deaths or 30-day readmissions were identified after HIPEC.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of HIPEC for ovarian cancer increased in the US after publication of a phase III clinical trial in a high-impact journal, though the absolute number of cases remains modest. Incorporation of HIPEC was associated with increased cost, hospital length of stay, ICU admission, and hospital-acquired complication rates. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate long-term outcomes, including morbidity and survival.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Ovarian Cancer, Version 1.2019

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer in the United States, with less than half of patients living >5 years from diagnosis. A major challenge in treating ovarian cancer is that most patients have advanced disease at initial diagnosis. The best outcomes are observed in patients whose primary treatment includes complete resection of all visible disease plus combination platinum-based chemotherapy. Research efforts are focused on primary neoadjuvant treatments that may improve resectability, as well as systemic therapies providing improved long-term survival. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates to neoadjuvant chemotherapy recommendations, including the addition of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and the role of PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab as maintenance therapy options in select patients who have completed primary chemotherapy.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in conjunction with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) holds promise as an adjunctive treatment strategy in malignancies affecting the peritoneal surface, effectively targeting remaining microscopic residual tumor. HIPEC increases concentrations of chemotherapy directly within the peritoneal cavity compared with the intravenous route and reduces the systemic side effects associated with prolonged adjuvant intraperitoneal exposure. Furthermore, hyperthermia increases tissue penetration and is synergistic with the therapeutic chemotherapy agents used. In ovarian cancer, evidence is building for its use in both primary and recurrent scenarios. In this review, we examine the history of HIPEC, the techniques used, and the available data guiding its use in primary and recurrent ovarian cancer.

Upfront HIPEC and bevacizumab-containing adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION

In advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients, the standard of care is primary debulking surgery, followed by first-line chemotherapy often with bevacizumab addiction. In this context, some experiences have shown that a comprehensive treatment approach to surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) could improve the prognosis.

OBJECTIVE

This is a study aimed to explore the feasibility of primary debulking surgery and HIPEC upfront followed by first-line therapy with bevacizumab.

STUDY DESIGN

Phase II monocentric, open label, non-randomised and single-arm study. Forty patients affected by advanced ovarian cancer submitted to primary debulking surgery with HIPEC were enrolled in the study. After surgery, all patients underwent systemic chemotherapy with bevacizumab addiction.

RESULTS

Complete cytoreduction (RT = 0) was achieved in all cases. Treatment-related early complications were observed in 23 patients and in 15 cases were G1-G2. Major complications were reported in 8 patients. No postoperative death was recorded. Subsequent chemotherapy was administered in all cases. Median time between surgery and first cycle of chemotherapy was 42 days (range 30-76). Concomitant bevacizumab was administered in 34 patients (85%). Maintenance with bevacizumab was feasible in 33 patients (82.5%) and its withdrawal was necessary for 1 patient (2.5%) due to G3 hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that HIPEC can be safely introduced in the upfront therapy of advanced ovarian cancer.

[Surgical treatment of peritoneal metastases from gynecological primary tumors]

BACKGROUND

The principle of surgical treatment of peritoneal metastases of ovarian cancer in the primary as well as in the recurrent disease setting includes macroscopic complete cytoreductive surgery. The addition of intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreduction is currently not part of the standard treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Data on intraperitoneal chemotherapy for treatment of peritoneal metastases of ovarian cancer are presented focusing on overall and progression-free survival and on morbidity and mortality rates.

METHOD

PubMed search including the following terms: ovarian cancer, peritoneal metastases, cytoreduction and HIPEC.

RESULTS

Randomized-controlled and non-randomized controlled trials showed that intraperitoneal chemotherapy after maximum cytoreductive surgery results in a survival benefit regarding overall and progression-free survival for primary as well as recurrent disease. Addition of HIPEC does not impact on the initiation of postoperative systemic chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Macroscopic complete cytoreduction is the most important prognostic factor. The addition of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of peritoneal metastases of ovarian cancer showed promising results but so far it is not accepted as a part of a multimodal treatment concept.

Evaluation of the peritoneal surface disease severity score (PSDSS) in ovarian cancer patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC: Two pathogenetic types based study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Clinical experience suggests that cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) play an important role in the management of ovarian cancer. In order to improve patient selection, the peritoneal surface disease severity score (PSDSS) was previously introduced for use in colorectal cancer patients. However, almost no data exist regarding the utility of the PSDSS index in ovarian cancer patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study of the effectiveness of CRS and HIPEC was carried out in 59 patients with ovarian cancer. The PSDSS was based on three criteria: symptoms, extent of peritoneal dissemination, and primary tumor structure as assessed by histology and biomarker expression.

RESULTS

The overall survival time for patients with ovarian cancer in PSDSS Stage I was 48 ± 25.3 months. For PSDSS Stage II, the survival time was 26.5 ± 4.7 months. For PSDSS Stage III, it was 15.5 ± 4 months, and for PSDSS Stage IV, it was 6 ± 4.3 months. A multivariate analysis showed that the PSDSS stage was the only independent survival predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that a PSDSS based on two pathogenetic types may be useful for predicting survival outcomes in ovarian cancer patients treated with CRS/HIPEC.

Pharmacokinetic problems in peritoneal drug administration: an update after 20 years

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has demonstrated significant pharmacologic and clinical advantage over traditional intravenous administration for cancers that are restricted to the peritoneal cavity. The combination of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has become the standard technique used to fight ovarian and gastrointestinal cancers in many centers. However, challenges remain for HIPEC to contact the entire peritoneal surface, penetrate the tumor tissue, and transport to the lymphatics and other metastatic sites. New innovations in delivery technique, such as heated aerosol, and in delivery molecules, such as microparticles, nanoparticles, nanogels, and tumor-penetrating peptides are being tested in animal models and will likely soon be in human trials. Improvements in overall care, such as the recent clinical trial of an oral agent for maintenance therapy in ovarian carcinoma, will continue in this field for the next 20 years.

Functional vascular anatomy of the peritoneum in health and disease

The peritoneum consists of a layer of mesothelial cells on a connective tissue base which is perfused with circulatory and lymphatic vessels. Total effective blood flow to the human peritoneum is estimated between 60 and 100 mL/min, representing 1-2 % of the cardiac outflow. The parietal peritoneum accounts for about 30 % of the peritoneal surface (anterior abdominal wall 4 %) and is vascularized from the circumflex, iliac, lumbar, intercostal, and epigastric arteries, giving rise to a quadrangular network of large, parallel blood vessels and their perpendicular offshoots. Parietal vessels drain into the inferior vena cava. The visceral peritoneum accounts for 70 % of the peritoneal surface and derives its blood supply from the three major arteries that supply the splanchnic organs, celiac and superior and inferior mesenteric. These vessels give rise to smaller arteries that anastomose extensively. The visceral peritoneum drains into the portal vein. Drugs absorbed are subject to first-pass hepatic metabolism. Peritoneal inflammation and cancer invasion induce neoangiogenesis, leading to the development of an important microvascular network. Anatomy of neovessels is abnormal and characterized by large size, varying diameter, convolution and blood extravasation. Neovessels have a defective ultrastructure: formation of large "mother vessels" requires degradation of venular and capillary basement membranes. Mother vessels give birth to numerous "daughter vessels". Diffuse neoangiogenesis can be observed before appearance of macroscopic peritoneal metastasis. Multiplication of the peritoneal capillary surface by neoangiogenesis surface increases the part of cardiac outflow directed to the peritoneum.

Heated IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: A Systematic Literature Review

Background

Despite advances in surgical oncology, most patients with primary ovarian cancer develop a recurrence that is associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this review was to establish the impact of Heated IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the overall survival of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Methods

A search of PubMed/MEDLINE databases was performed in February 2015 using the terms “recurrent ovarian cancer,” “cytoreductive surgery/cytoreduction,” and “heated/hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.” Only English articles with available abstracts assessing the impact of HIPEC in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer were examined. The primary outcome measure was overall survival, whereas secondary outcomes included disease-free survival and HIPEC-related morbidity.

Results

Sixteen studies with 1168 patients were analyzed. Most studies were Level IV, with 4 studies graded as Level III and 1 Level II. Cisplatin was the main chemotherapeutic agent used, but variations were observed in the actual technique, temperature of perfusate, and duration of treatment. In patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC, the overall survival ranged between 26.7 and 35 months, with disease-free survival varying between 8.5 and 48 months. Heated IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy seems to confer survival benefits to patients with recurrent disease, with a randomized controlled study reporting that the overall survival is doubled when cytoreductive surgery is compared with cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy (13. 4 vs 26.7 months). Heated IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy–related morbidity ranged between 13.6% and 100%, but it was mainly minor and not significantly different from that experienced by patients who only underwent cytoreduction.

Conclusions

Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC seem to be associated with promising results in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Large international prospective studies are required to further quantify the true efficacy of HIPEC and identify the optimal treatment protocol for a maximum survival benefit.

Cytoreductive Surgery plus Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy to Treat Advanced/Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Results from a Retrospective Study on Prospectively Established Database

BACKGROUND

Despite the best standard treatment, optimal cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy, prognosis of advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) remains poor. Recently, CRS plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been developed to treat peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CRS+HIPEC to treat PC from advanced/recurrent EOC.

METHODS

Forty-six PC patients from advanced EOC (group A) or recurrent EOC (group B) were treated by 50 CRS+HIPEC procedures. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS); the secondary endpoints were safety profiles.

RESULTS

The median OS was 74.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.5-139.5] for group A versus 57.5 months (95% CI 29.8-85.2) for group B (P = .68). The median PFS was not reached for group A versus 8.5 months (95% CI 0-17.5) for group B (P = .034). Better median OS correlated with peritoneal cancer index (PCI) < 20 (76.6 months for PCI ≤ 20 group vs 38.5 months for PCI > 20 group, P = .01), complete cyroreduction (residual disease ≤ 2.5 mm) [79.5 months for completeness of cytoreduction (CC) score 0-1 vs 24.3 months for CC 2-3, P = .00], and sensitivity to platinum (65.3 months for platinum-sensitive group vs 20.0 for platinum-resistant group, P = .05). Serious adverse events occurred in five patients (10.0%). Multivariate analysis identified CC score as the only independent factor for better survival.

CONCLUSION

For advanced/recurrent EOC, CRS+HIPEC could improve OS with acceptable safety.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy hyperthermia (HIPEC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian cancer origin by fluid and CO2 recirculation using the closed abdomen technique (PRS-1.0 Combat): A clinical pilot study

Background This paper reports a study of 21 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC by means of PRS-1.0 Combat®, a new model for closed abdomen HIPEC aimed at improving fluid distribution with assistance from a CO2 recirculation system. This new technology has been previously shown to be successful in an experimental study (pig model) performed by our group, and has been approved for use in our hospital. Methods Twenty-one patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian cancer origin were included in the study. Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC were performed by a closed abdomen fluid and CO2 recirculation technique using the PRS-1.0 Combat(®) model. We analysed the intraoperative safety tolerance and post-operative morbidity and mortality during the first 30 days. Results Between November 2011 and March 2014 21 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage II-IV, were included in the study. During the procedure there were no significant haemodynamic or analytical disturbances. Complication rates were 38.1% and 57.14% for grade III/IV and minor (grade I/II) complications, respectively. Post-operative mortality was 4.76% (one patient). Complete cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy improved overall survival and disease-free survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer. The association of intra-abdominal hyperthermia with chemotherapy (HIPEC) increased the therapeutic benefit. Conclusions This study has shown that closed abdomen intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia by a fluid and CO2 recirculation system (PRS-1.0 Combat(®)) can be a safe and feasible model for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian cancer origin.

Second-Line Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian, Tubal and Peritoneal Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matching Study

BACKGROUND

The superiority of frontline intraperitoneal (IP) over intravenous (IV) chemotherapy is well established in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the role of IP chemotherapy in the second-line setting has rarely been investigated.

METHODS

Consecutive patients diagnosed with recurrent epithelial, tubal and peritoneal cancers between January 2000 and December 2012 were recruited using a propensity score-matching technique to adjust relevant risk factors.

RESULTS

In total, 310 patients were included in the final analysis (94 for platinum-refractory/resistant disease and 216 for platinum-sensitive disease). IP chemotherapy demonstrated significantly longer median progression-free survival than IV chemotherapy (4.9 vs. 2.4 months, p < 0.001, for platinum-refractory/resistant disease, and 9.8 vs. 6.9 months, p < 0.001, for platinum-sensitive disease).

CONCLUSIONS

Second-line IP chemotherapy confers longer progression-free survival than IV chemotherapy. Large-scale clinical trials should be conducted to validate the true efficacy.

Long-Term Survival for Platinum-Sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated with Secondary Cytoreductive Surgery Plus Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

BACKGROUND

To analyze the 5- and 7-year survival outcomes for women with platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (REOC) who underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) plus platinum-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

METHODS

From the electronic databases of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Rome and of the S. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, a consecutive series of REOC patients were selected using the following inclusion criteria: primary platinum-free interval (PFI-1) of 6 months or longer, completeness of secondary cytoreduction score (CC) of 1 or lower, minimum follow-up period of 48 months, Eastern Cooperative Group (ECOG) performance status at recurrence of 1 or less, and platinum-based HIPEC. Progression-free survival (PFS) and post-relapse survival (PRS) were calculated as the time between SCS + HIPEC and secondary recurrence or death, respectively.

RESULTS

The final study population included 70 women with platinum-sensitive REOC. The median follow-up time was 73 months (range 48-128 months), and the median PFI-1 was 19 months (range 6-100 months). At the time of recurrence, the median peritoneal cancer index was 7 (range 1-21), and a CC score of 0 was achieved for 62 patients (88.6 %). As the HIPEC drug, we used oxaliplatin in 17 cases (38.6 %) and cisplatin in 43 cases (61.4 %). No postoperative deaths were observed, and the complication rate for grades 3 and 4 disease was 8.6 %. The median PFS duration was 27 months (range 5-104 months), and the 5- and 7-year PRS rates were respectively 52.8 and 44.7 %, (median PRS 63 months).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated favorable 5- and 7-year PRS rates for platinum-sensitive REOC patients undergoing SCS + HIPEC, which encourages the inclusion of patients in randomized clinical trials for definitive conclusions to be drawn.

Survival Impact of Secondary Cytoreductive Surgery for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer in an Asian Population

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of secondary cytoreductive surgery in Asian patients with recurrent ovarian cancer and to assess prognostic variables on overall post-recurrence survival time.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who underwent secondary cytoreduction at the Gynaecological Cancer Center at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, between 1999 and 2009. Eligible patients included those who had been firstly treated by primary cytoreductive surgery and followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and had a period of clinical remission of at least six months and subsequently underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrence. Univariate analysis was performed to evaluate various variables influencing the overall survival.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients met our eligibility criteria. The median age was 52 years (range=31-78 years). The median time from completion of primary treatment to recurrence was 25.1 months (range=6.4-83.4). Secondary cytoreduction was optimal in 20 of 25 patients (80%). The median follow-up duration was 38.9 months (range=17.8-72.4) and median overall survival time was 33.1 months (95% confidence interval, 15.3-undefined.). Ten (40.0%) patients required bowel resection, but no end colostomy was performed. One (4.0%) patient had wedge resection of the liver, one (4.0%) had a distal pancreatectomy, one (4.0%) had a unilateral nephrectomy, and one (4.0%) had adrenalectomy. There were no operative deaths. The overall survival of patients who responded to secondary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly longer than those patients who did not respond to the treatment. Of those patients who responded to the surgical management, patients with clear cell carcinoma fared well compared to those with the endometrioid, mucinous adenocarcinoma, and papillary serous type (p<0.001). Complete secondary cytoreductive surgery appeared to have some relationship to overall survival but was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

In carefully selected patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, optimal cytoreductive surgery is possible and in a subgroup of patients who respond to surgery and chemotherapy survival is significantly longer.

Bevacizumab doubles the early postoperative complication rate after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin

BACKGROUND

Patients with stage IV colorectal cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis are increasingly treated with curative intent and perioperative systemic chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to analyze the potential impact of bevacizumab on early morbidity after cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin.

METHODS

From 2004 to 2010, in three referral centers, 182 patients with colorectal carcinomatosis were treated with complete cytoreduction followed by HIPEC after either preoperative systemic chemotherapy alone or in combination with bevacizumab. Because there was no control on treatment allocation, propensity score methods were used to control for this bias.

RESULTS

The median time from discontinuation of bevacizumab to HIPEC was 7 weeks (range 6-10 weeks). Major morbidity was greater in the bevacizumab group (34 vs. 19 %, p = 0.020). Nine patients died postoperatively, 5 (6.2 %) in the bevacizumab group (n = 80) and 4 (3.9 %) in the group treated with chemotherapy alone (n = 102) (p = 0.130). The rate of digestive fistulas was greater in the bevacizumab group, although not statistically significant (18 vs. 10 %, p = 0.300). The effect of bevacizumab on major morbidity (including death) was found to be statistically significant (odds ratio 2.28, 95 % confidence interval 1.05-4.95) (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of bevacizumab before surgery with complete cytoreduction followed by HIPEC for colorectal carcinomatosis is associated with twofold increased morbidity. The oncologic benefit of bevacizumab before HIPEC remains to be evaluated.

Comprehensive management of epithelial ovarian cancer with peritoneal metastases

Ovarian cancer has as its predominant pattern of dissemination metastases to the peritoneal surfaces and disease spread within the abdomen and pelvis that most commonly causes the patients demise. To combat peritoneal metastases, cytoreductive surgery with peritoneal and visceral resections is combined with intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy. Chemotherapy given in the operating room after the complete visible removal of ovarian cancer is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The results of the combined treatment are determined by the extent of prior surgery, the extent of disease as established by the peritoneal cancer index, and the quality of the cytoreduction as measured by the completeness of cytoreduction score. Recent clinical information on patients with recurrent ovarian cancer suggest a median overall survival of up to 60 mo. These data are greatly improved over the one year survival observed in the past.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis

Several gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies have the potential to disseminate and grow in the peritoneal cavity. The occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) has been shown to significantly decrease overall survival in patients with liver and/or extraperitoneal metastases from gastrointestinal cancer. During the last three decades, the understanding of the biology and pathways of dissemination of tumors with intraperitoneal spread, and the understanding of the protective function of the peritoneal barrier against tumoral seeding, has prompted the concept that PC is a loco-regional disease: in absence of other systemic metastases, multimodal approaches combining aggressive cytoreductive surgery, intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy and systemic chemotherapy have been proposed and are actually considered promising methods to improve loco-regional control of the disease, and ultimately to increase survival. The aim of this review article is to present the evidence on treatment of PC in different tumors, in order to provide patients with a proper surgical and multidisciplinary treatment focused on optimal control of their locoregional disease.

Morbidity and mortality outcomes of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with primary and recurrent advanced ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to report the perioperative outcomes of CRS and HIPEC from a single institution and review those factors that are associated with a poor perioperative outcome in patients with peritoneal dissemination from primary or recurrent ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A retrospective cohort study setting was conducted in a third level hospital peritoneal surface malignancy program. Ninety one patients diagnosed with ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis, primary and recurrent without extraperitoneal metastasis were included for cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC with paclitaxel. We analyzed the postoperative morbidity rates and a univariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with overall (grade I-IV) and major (grade III-IV) postoperative morbidity were performed.

RESULTS

Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) upper than 12 (OR = 2.942 95%: 1.892-9.594 p = 0.044) was an independent factor associated with the occurrence of I-IV postoperative morbidity. Regarding major complications (grade III-IV), on multivariate analysis, in addition to PCI >12 (OR = 6.692, 95% CI: 1974-45, 674, p = 0.032), the need to carry out intestinal resection (OR = 4.987, 95% CI: 1350-27, 620, p = 0.046) was an independent factor related with major morbidity (grade III-IV).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of HIPEC after aggressive cytoreductive surgery in patients with ovarian cancer with peritoneal dissemination can be performed with acceptable postoperative morbidity rates. Knowledge of the factors associated with the onset of these postoperative adverse events allows better management of the same and offers the patient a safe procedure.

Indikationen und Resultate der Peritonektomie bei nichtkolorektaler Peritonealkarzinose

<b><i>Hintergund:</i></b> In dieser Übersichtsarbeit soil der Stellenwert der zytoreduktiven chirurgischen Therapie (CRS) in Kombination mit einer hyperthermen intraperitonealen Chemotherapie (HIPEC) der Peritonealkarzinose bei nichtkolorektalen Karzinomen dargestellt werden. Hierzu zählen als primäre Tumoren des Peritoneums das Mesotheliom und das Pseudomyxoma peritonei. Zu den wichtigsten sekundären malignen Erkrankungen des Peritoneums zählen die Peritonealkarzinose des Magenkarzinoms, des Pankreaskarzinoms und des Ovarialkarzinoms sowie die Sarkomatose. <b><i>Methode:</i></b> Pathologische Besonderheiten der einzelnen Entitäten und Therapieempfehlungen anhand der aktuellen Literatur werden im Einzelnen beschrieben. <b><i>Ergebnisse:</i></b> Prinzipiell ist die chirurgische Behandlung der Peritonealkarzinose im Sinne einer CRS in Kombination mit einer HIPEC ein sinnvolles Therapiekonzept - vorausgesetzt, dass eine nahezu komplette Tumorentfernung erzielt werden kann. <b><i>Schlussfolgerung: </i></b>Aufgrund der erhöhten Morbidität sollte ein chirurgischer Eingriff gut indiziert sein. Bei ausgewählten Patienten ist eine CRS der Peritonealkarzinose in Kombination mit einer HIPEC ein sinnvolles und lebensverlängerndes Verfahren.

Cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients: a case-control study on survival in patients with two year follow-up

OBJECTIVES

To compare survival data in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients submitted to secondary cytoreduction (SCR) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal intraoperative chemotherapy (HIPEC) (Cases) and a similar group of women not experiencing HIPEC (Controls).

METHODS

Case-control study, matching 30 Cases with 37 Controls, with at least 24 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

Groups were comparable for all characteristics, except for a higher proportion of patients with single-nodule relapses is the Controls (19 vs. 6; p=0.011). Median follow-up time was 46 months in the Cases and 36 months in the Controls. Twenty patients (66.6%) experienced secondary recurrence in the Cases and 37 women (100%) in the Controls (p=0.001). Moreover, 7 (23.3%) and 23 (62.2%) patients died of disease in the Cases and Controls respectively (p=0.003). The duration of secondary response was 26 months in the Cases and 15 months in the Controls (p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of SCR and HIPEC seems to improve survival rate in patients suffering from platinum-sensitive EOC recurrence with respect to no-HIPEC treatments. This result further supports the need of a randomized trial.

Anesthesia considerations during cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

This article outlines the anesthetic management of patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This includes a discussion of preoperative evaluation, hemodynamic monitoring, fluid and electrolyte therapy, and temperature management. An understanding of the unique physiologic consequences of this procedure is essential to ensure good outcomes and avoid patient injuries.

Secondary cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: a multi-institutional study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and morbidity and mortality of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

DESIGN

A retrospective study conducted using information extracted from a multi-institutional prospective database on peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs). Setting Four Italian centres specializing in locoregional treatment of PSM.

POPULATION

Patients with recurrent EOC.

METHODS

Fifty-six patients underwent 57 combined procedures. CRS was performed using peritonectomy procedures and HIPEC using the closed-abdomen technique with cisplatin and doxorubicin or cisplatin and mitomycin-C.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), morbidity and mortality rates.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 55.2 years (range 30-75 years). The median peritoneal cancer index was 15.2 (range 4-30). Forty-seven patients had microscopic residual disease (completeness of cytoreduction, CC-0), seven had residual disease ≤2.5 mm (CC-1) and one had residual disease >2.5 mm (CC>2). Major complications occurred in 15 patients (26.3%), and procedure-related mortality occurred in three patients (5.3%). The median follow-up time was 23.1 months. The median OS and PFS were 25.7 (95% CI 20.3-31.0) and 10.8 (95% CI 5.4-16.2) months, respectively. The 5-year OS and PFS were 23% and 7%, respectively. Independent prognostic factors affecting OS according to the multivariate analysis were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, preoperative serum albumin, and completeness of cytoreduction.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with recurrent EOC treated with CRS and HIPEC showed promising results in terms of outcome. The combined treatment strategy could benefit subsets of patients wider than that defined for conventional secondary debulking surgery without HIPEC. These data warrant further evaluation in randomised clinical trials.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for persistent and recurrent advanced ovarian carcinoma: a multicenter, prospective study of 246 patients

BACKGROUND

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is the main cause of death from gynaecological cancers in the western world. The initial response rate to the frontline therapy is high. However, the prognosis of persistent and recurrent disease remains poor. During the two past decades, a new therapeutic approach to peritoneal carcinomatosis has been developed, combining maximal cytoreductive effort with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

METHODS

A retrospective, multicentric study of 246 patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer, treated by cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC in two French centers between 1991 and 2008, was performed.

RESULTS

An optimal cytoreductive surgery was possible in 92.2 % of patients. Mortality and morbidity rates were 0.37 % and 11.6 %, respectively. The overall median survival was 48.9 months. There was no significant difference in overall survival in patients with persistent or recurrent disease. In multivariate analysis, performance status was a significant prognostic factor in patients with extensive peritoneal carcinomatosis (peritoneal cancer index >10).

CONCLUSIONS

Salvage therapy combining optimal cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC is feasible and may achieve long-term survival in highly selected patients with recurrent ovarian carcinoma, including those with platinum resistant disease, with acceptable morbidity.

Diagnosis and management of peritoneal metastases from ovarian cancer

The management and the outcome of peritoneal metastases or recurrence from epithelial ovarian cancer are presented. The biology and the diagnostic tools of EOC peritoneal metastasis with a comprehensive approach and the most recent literatures data are discussed. The definition and the role of surgery and chemotherapy are presented in order to focuse on the controversial points. Finally, the paper discusses the new data about the introduction of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Malignant ascites: pathophysiology and treatment

Malignant ascites (MA) accompanies a variety of abdominal and extra-abdominal tumors. It is a primary cause of morbidity and raises several treatment challenges. MA has several symptoms, producing a significant reduction in the patient's quality of life: loss of proteins and electrolyte disorders cause diffuse oedema, while the accumulation of abdominal fluid facilitates sepsis. Treatment options include a multitude of different procedures with limited efficacy and some degree of risk. A Pubmed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library review of medical, interventional and surgical treatments of MA has been performed. Medical therapy, primarily paracentesis and diuretics, are first-line treatments in managing MA. Paracentesis is widely adopted but it is associated with significant patient discomfort and several risks. Diuretic therapy is effective at the very beginning of the disease but efficacy declines with tumor progression. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radioisotopes are promising medical options but their clinical application is not yet completely elucidated, and further investigations and trials are necessary. Peritoneal-venous shunts are rarely used due to high rates of early mortality and complications. Laparoscopy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been proposed as palliative therapy. Literature on the use of laparoscopic HIPEC in MA includes only reports with small numbers of patients, all showing successful control of ascites. To date, none of the different options has been subjected to evidence-based clinical trials and there are no accepted guidelines for the management of MA.

Cyto-reductive Surgery combined with Hyperthermic Intra-peritoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies: current treatment and results

Cyto-reductive Surgery (CS) combined with Hyperthermic Intra-peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) as loco-regional treatment of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies (PSM) has increasingly gained acceptance in clinical practice. This review summarizes the more relevant studies on this topic. Indications, pre-operative work-up, technical aspects, outcome and future directions of this combined approach in the treatment of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies are discussed here and proposed in an informative and didactic manner.

Peritoneal carcinosis of ovarian origin

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the second most common genital malignancy in women and is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with an estimated five-year survival rate of 39%. Despite efforts to develop an effective ovarian cancer screening method, 60% of patients still present with advanced disease. Comprehensive management using surgical cytoreduction to decrease the tumor load to a minimum, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy to eliminate microscopic disease on peritoneal surface, has the potential to greatly improve quality of life and to have an impact on survival in ovarian cancer patients. Despite achieving clinical remission after completion of initial treatment, most patients (60%) with advanced EOC will ultimately develop recurrent disease or show drug resistance; the eventual rate of curability is less than 30%. Given the poor outcome of women with advanced EOC, it is imperative to continue to explore novel therapies.

Reappraisal of the role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the management of ovarian cancer: a single institutional experience

The peritoneal carcinomatosis of ovarian cancer led to the development of optimal cytoreduction surgery completed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The main goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, tolerance and efficacy of this technique in patients with ovarian cancer. A retrospective monocentric study has evaluated 43 patients with HIPEC procedures from 1995 to 2009. After a complete cytoreduction surgery, a HIPEC procedure with cisplatin is performed. Data on complications and survival parameters were collected. Prognostic factors were also analyzed. Post-surgery complications included one death due to a septic shock (2.3%) and six patients have presented major complications (13.9%). The median of overall survival and progression free survival were 53.6 and 39 months, respectively. Patients with a primary complete surgical cytoreduction of the peritoneal carcinomatosis presented overall survival length of 131 months versus 84 months without initial complete resection (P < 0.0001). Surgical cytoreduction combined with HIPEC is a feasible procedure with acceptable morbid-mortality rates. The initial complete resection of the peritoneal carcinomatosis significantly increases survival and represents a strong prognostic factor.

Oxaliplatin-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in primary or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer: A pilot study of 31 patients

BACKGROUND

The feasibility and safety of oxaliplatin-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) associated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) was assessed in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis resulting from primary advanced or relapsing epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

METHODS

Thirty-one patients received neoadjuvant platin-based chemotherapy followed by oxaliplatin-based HIPEC associated with CRS as consolidation of primary therapy (n = 19) or for relapsing disease (n = 12). Grade 3/4 complications were recorded according to National Cancer Institute definitions.

RESULTS

Median peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) was 2.7 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Mean duration of surgery was 352 min (range 105-614) and median hospital stay was 11 days (range 6-87). Grade 3 toxicity was observed in nine patients: five required repeat surgery, two an invasive procedure, four rehospitalization, and three a return to the ICU. No grade 4 toxicity occurred, excepted one hypokalemia. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for primary advanced EOC was 13.2 months and 1-year PFS was 59.3%. Median PFS for relapsing patients was 14.3 months and 1-year PFS was 54.4%.

CONCLUSION

CRS with oxaliplatin-based HIPEC is feasible and relatively safe in recurrent and primary EOC. HIPEC after neoadjuvant chemotherapy reduces the PCI and decreases the number of surgical procedures and morbidity. Further evaluations of this procedure are required to assess the survival benefits.

Safety and potential benefit of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in peritoneal carcinomatosis from primary or recurrent ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the outcomes of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from primary (45 cases) and recurrent (8 cases) ovarian cancer were previously treated by systemic chemotherapy with platinum and taxanes and then submitted to surgical cytoreduction and HIPEC (cisplatin and mitomycin-C) with a closed abdomen technique. The median follow-up period was 27 months (range: 3-107).

RESULTS

At the end of operation a complete cytoreduction (CCR-0) was obtained in 37 patients (70%). Major morbidity occurred in 12 patients (23%); reoperation was necessary in 2 patients (4%), and no postoperative mortality was observed. Overall 5-year survival probability was 55%; it was 71% in CCR-0, 44% in CCR-1, and none in patients with CCR-2 or CCR-3 residual tumor (log-rank test: P = 0.017). The cumulative risk of recurrence in 37 CCR-0 cases was 54% at 5 years from operation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study indicate the feasibility and the potential benefit of a protocol including systemic chemotherapy, surgical cytoreduction and HIPEC in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer. A phase III trial to compare this approach with conventional treatment is needed.

Advanced cytoreduction as surgical standard of care and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy as promising treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer

Favorable oncological outcomes have been reported in several trials with the introduction of Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC). However most of the studies testing the combined approach are observational and have been conducted in inhomogeneous series so that the evidence supporting the performance of this combined treatment is still poor. Median Overall and Disease Free Survivals of up to 64 months and 57 months, respectively have been reported. Although a rate of morbidity of up to 40% has been observed in some series the CRS + HIPEC continues to gain an increased popularity. Several prospective randomized trials are ongoing using the procedure in various time points of the disease. In this review several issues such as the impact of cytoreduction and residual disease (RD) on outcomes as well as the role of HIPEC will be updated from the literature evidence. Some controversial points HIPEC related will also be discussed. Recent experiences regarding the introduction of a more aggressive surgical approach to upper abdomen to resect peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) allowed increased rates of optimal cytoreduction and has demonstrated an apparent better outcome. This evidence associated with the positive results phase III trial testing normothermic intraperitoneal as first-line chemotherapy is guiding some investigators to propose the CRS + HIPEC in the primary setting. Several prospective phase II and III trials have recently been launched to validate the role of the combined treatment in various time points of disease natural evolution.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and without adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIIC ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and efficacy of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) without adjuvant chemotherapy for relapsed or persistent advanced ovarian cancer.

METHODS

This observational study included stage IIIC ovarian cancer patients due to undergo CRS (interval debulking or recurrent surgery) followed by HIPEC with oxaliplatin (460 mg/m2) for 30 min.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (12 interval debulking procedures and 10 recurrence procedures) were enrolled between September 2003 and September 2007. HIPEC was not performed in four patients because of operative findings. No patient received adjuvant chemotherapy after HIPEC. Patients were followed up routinely until recurrence or death. Median peritoneal cancer index at surgery was 6 (range: 1-18). Before HIPEC, all patients had completeness of cytoreduction scores of 0 or 1. Median length of hospital stay was 21 days (range 13-65). Ten patients (55.6%) had CTCAE grade 3-4 toxicity, including three patients (16.7%) requiring reoperation. No postoperative mortality was observed. With a median follow-up of 38 months (CI 95% 23.8-39.2), median overall survival was not reached. The 3-year overall survival rate was 83% (CI 95% 54-95). Median disease-free survival was, respectively, 16.9 months (CI 95% 10.2-23.2) and 10 months (CI 95% 4.5-11.3) for patients undergoing interval debulking or recurrence surgery.

CONCLUSION

HIPEC without adjuvant chemotherapy is both feasible and safe, but with a high rate of grade 3-5 toxicity. Survival results are encouraging but should be confirmed in a randomized trial.

Peritoneal carcinosis of ovarian origin

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the second most common genital malignancy in women and is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with an estimated five-year survival rate of 39%. Despite efforts to develop an effective ovarian cancer screening method, 60% of patients still present with advanced disease. Comprehensive management using surgical cytoreduction to decrease the tumor load to a minimum, and intraperitoneal chemotherapy to eliminate microscopic disease on peritoneal surface, has the potential to greatly improve quality of life and to have an impact on survival in ovarian cancer patients. Despite achieving clinical remission after completion of initial treatment, most patients (60%) with advanced EOC will ultimately develop recurrent disease or show drug resistance; the eventual rate of curability is less than 30%. Given the poor outcome of women with advanced EOC, it is imperative to continue to explore novel therapies.

Intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis: systematic review of current results

BACKGROUND

Advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer results in extensive spread of tumor on the peritoneal surfaces of the abdomen and pelvis. We collectively review studies in the literature that report the efficacy of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis.

METHODS

An electronic search of all relevant studies published in peer-reviewed journals before May 2009 was performed on three databases. The quality of each study was independently assessed and classified according to the time point of HIPEC use in various setting of ovarian cancer from the consensus statement of the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group. Clinical efficacy was synthesized through a narrative review with full tabulation of the results of each included study.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies each of more than ten patients reporting treatment results of HIPEC of patients with both advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer were included and data were extracted. All studies were observational case series. The overall rate of severe perioperative morbidity ranged from 0 to 40% and mortality rate varied from 0 to 10%. The overall median survival following treatment with HIPEC ranged from 22 to 64 months with a median disease-free survival ranging from 10 to 57 months. In patients with optimal cytoreduction, a 5-year survival rate ranging from 12 to 66% could be achieved.

CONCLUSION

Despite the heterogeneity of the studies reviewed, current evidence suggest that complete CRS and HIPEC may be a feasible option with potential benefits that are comparable with the current standard of care. A randomized trial is required to establish the role of HIPEC in ovarian cancer.