Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin for peritoneal carcinomatosis: a clinical pharmacological perspective on a surgical procedure

Intraperitoneal pharmacokinetics of systemic oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and bevacizumab in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal metastases (PM) commonly occur in colorectal cancer patients. Systemic chemotherapy yields poor outcomes for these patients. It is hypothesised that traditional systemic chemotherapy is not very effective for this patient population. This study investigates to what extent systemic anti-cancer therapy crosses the peritoneal barrier.

METHODS

In a Phase I study, eighteen patients received systemic oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and bevacizumab. Plasma and peritoneal fluid samples were collected to measure drug concentrations. A non-compartmental analysis determined the Area Under the Curve (AUC) for oxaliplatin and 5-FU in both matrices. Intraperitoneal (IP) and intravenous (IV) exposure ratios were calculated, along with the bevacizumab concentration IP/IV ratio. The relationship between tumour load and IP/IV ratios and the correlation between the IP/IV ratios of different treatments were assessed statistically.

RESULTS

A total of 438 5-FU samples and 578 oxaliplatin samples were analysed in plasma and peritoneal fluid. Bevacizumab was quantified with 17 measurements in plasma and 15 measurements IP. Median IP/IV ratios were 0.143, 0.352 and 0.085 for 5-FU, oxaliplatin and bevacizumab, respectively. Oxaliplatin exhibited a longer IP half-life than 5-FU. A correlation was found between oxaliplatin and bevacizumab IP/IV ratios (R=0.69, p=0.01). No statistical correlations were found between the other investigated drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that only a small percentage of systemically administered anti-cancer treatment reaches the IP cavity, questioning their efficacy against PM. This strengthens the hypothesis for repeated intraperitoneal chemotherapy to reach adequate anti-cancer drug levels.

The prophylactic role of mitomycin C-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (MMC-based HIPEC) on peritoneal metastasis of spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (srHCC): A pilot study

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was featured as spontaneous rupture hemorrhage under intratumoral overpressure. Spontaneous rupture hepatocellular carcinoma (srHCC) has a high propensity for peritoneal metastasis (PM). Although HIPEC has become standard treatment for malignancies with PM, it has been poorly described in srHCC. We conducted a single-arm, open-label, single-center, prospective study to explore the prophylactic role of MMC-based HIPEC on PM of srHCC. A total of 7 patients were collected from April 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022. HIPEC was conducted 3 times on the first, third and fifth postoperative days. 15 mg/m2 of MMC was used with 60 minutes perfusion at 43°C. The primary end-point was local peritoneum recurrence free survival (RFS), whereas the secondary end-point was systemic RFS and overall survival (OS). The mean hepatectomy operation time was 232 minutes (SD: 124.08 minutes). The median bleeding loss was 200 mL (range 50-400 mL). The mean hospital stay was 13 days (SD: 3.42 days). Only mild abdominal distension was reported in 4 patients (57%). There were no patients who suffered from life-threatening intra-abdominal and extra-abdominal complications (EAC). At the data cut-off (April 30, 2023), one patient (14%) had died due to cachexia. Local peritoneal recurrence occurred in three patients (43%). Median follow-up was 16.1 months (IQR: 12.8-16.6 months). Median local peritoneum RFS was 12.3 months (95% CI: 7.0- 17.5; 4 events) and median overall RFS was 7.5 months (95% CI: 4.2-10.8; 6 events). MMC-based HIPEC was safe and feasible in selected patients of srHCC. It showed a positive tendency in preventing PM, but large-scale research should be continued.

Effects of Hyperthermia and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion on the Peritoneal and Tumor Immune Contexture

Hyperthermia combined with intraperitoneal (IP) drug delivery is increasingly used in the treatment of peritoneal metastases (PM). Hyperthermia enhances tumor perfusion and increases drug penetration after IP delivery. The peritoneum is increasingly recognized as an immune-privileged organ with its own distinct immune microenvironment. Here, we review the immune landscape of the healthy peritoneal cavity and immune contexture of peritoneal metastases. Next, we review the potential benefits and unwanted tumor-promoting effects of hyperthermia and the associated heat shock response on the tumor immune microenvironment. We highlight the potential modulating effect of hyperthermia on the biomechanical properties of tumor tissue and the consequences for immune cell infiltration. Data from translational and clinical studies are reviewed. We conclude that (mild) hyperthermia and HIPEC have the potential to enhance antitumor immunity, but detailed further studies are required to distinguish beneficial from tumor-promoting effects.

Extensive Peritonectomy is an Independent Risk Factor for Cisplatin HIPEC-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Background

Cisplatin (CDDP)-containing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is frequently applied in selected patients with peritoneal malignancies derived from ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, and primary peritoneal mesothelioma. HIPEC with CDDP increases perioperative morbidity, in particular by inducing acute kidney injury (AKI). Factors contributing to occurrence of AKI after intraperitoneal perfusion with CDDP have not been sufficiently evaluated.

Patients and Methods

Data from 63 patients treated with a CDDP-containing HIPEC regimen were retrospectively analyzed concerning demographics, underlying disease, surgery, and HIPEC details to evaluate risk factors of AKI. A preclinical rat perfusion model was applied to assess the influence of temperature, concentration, perfusate volume, perfusion flow rate, and extent of peritonectomy on drug absorption upon intraperitoneal CDDP perfusion.

Results

AKI occurred in 66.1% of patients undergoing CDDP-containing HIPEC, with total intraoperative fluid influx being a negative and the extent of parietal peritonectomy being a positive independent predictor of postoperative AKI. In a preclinical model, bilateral anterior parietal peritonectomy significantly increased systemic CDDP absorption by 1.6 to 2-fold. CDDP plasma levels in animals were significantly higher after both perfusion with increased CDDP perfusate concentrations and bilateral anterior parietal peritonectomy.

Conclusion

CDDP-containing HIPEC is associated with relevant morbidity owing to its systemic toxicity. Extent of parietal peritonectomy is an independent predictor of AKI. CDDP dose reduction should be considered in case of extensive parietal peritonectomy. Cytostatic drug concentrations in HIPEC perfusate should be paid more attention to than total dose per body surface area. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the presented preclinical findings.

Determination of Oxaliplatin by a UHPLC-MS/MS Method: Application to Pharmacokinetics and Tongue Tissue Distribution Studies in Rats

Oxaliplatin (OXP), a third-generation platinum-based chemotherapy drug, was often indirectly analyzed via total platinum by an ICP-MS because it was difficult to directly quantify using an LC-MS/MS method, due to its instability, bad column separability and severe MS signal inhibition. Here, we developed and validated a specific, sensitive and reproducible LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of OXP itself in rat plasma and tongue tissue on a SCIEX 4000 QTRAP^® MS/MS system equipped with a Phenomenex Lux 5u Cellulose-1 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). This method was validated at the lower limit of detection (LOD) and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 5 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, with linearity of 10–5000 ng/mL (r² > 0.99) and 10–2500 ng/mL (r² > 0.99), in rat plasma and tongue homogenates, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision (CV%) and accuracy (RE%) were within 15% for LLOQ, low-, medium- and high-quality control samples. The mean extraction recoveries were around 50% and 80% for plasma and tongue homogenates, respectively. This assay was successfully applied to pharmacokinetics study following intravenous administration of OXP, as well as tongue tissue distribution after 1 h and 4 h of a novel oral mucosal patch application.

Oxaliplatin versus Mitomycin C following complete cytoreduction for colorectal peritoneal metastases: a comparative study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can offer selected patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) a favorable long-term survival. While cytoreductive techniques are standardized, there remains great variability in HIPEC drugs with mitomycin C or oxaliplatin use based largely on institute preference. In this study, we compared outcomes based on mitomycin C or oxaliplatin use after complete cytoreduction.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis over a 7-year period of all patients undergoing complete cytoreduction with HIPEC.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients underwent complete cytoreduction with HIPEC during this time. Forty-six patients received oxaliplatin as HIPEC, and 32 received mitomycin C. There was no difference in patient characteristics, resections, or major morbidity between the two groups. Superficial wound infections were higher in the mitomycin C group (37.5% v 15.2%, p = 0.02). Median overall and disease-free survival for the entire cohort was 40 and 14 months, respectively. There was no difference in overall survival or disease-free survival between the two HIPEC groups (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.11-2.28).

CONCLUSION

Complete cytoreduction and HIPEC can offer selected patients a favorable survival. The choice of mitomycin C or oxaliplatin for HIPEC had no influence on survival. Prospective studies are needed to explore this important issue.

Wide variation in tissue, systemic, and drain fluid exposure after oxaliplatin-based HIPEC: results of the GUTOX study

Purpose

In this exploratory study, the effect of postprocedural flushing with crystalloids after oxaliplatin-based hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on platinum concentrations in peritoneal tissue, blood, and drain fluid was studied. Interpatient variability in oxaliplatin pharmacokinetics and the relation between platinum concentration in peritoneal fluid and platinum exposure in tissue and blood was explored.

Methods

Ten patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin were treated with HIPEC including postprocedural flushing, followed by ten patients without flushing afterwards. Tissue, peritoneal fluid, blood, and drain fluid samples were collected for measurement of total and ultrafiltered platinum concentrations.

Results

Peritoneal tissue concentration and systemic ultrafiltered platinum exposure showed large inter individual variability, ranging from 65 to 1640 µg/g dry weight and 10.5 to 28.0 µg*h/ml, respectively. No effect of flushing was found on geometric mean platinum concentration in peritoneal tissue (348 vs. 356 µg/g dry weight), blood (14.8 vs. 18.1 µg*h/ml), or drain fluid (day 1: 7.6 vs. 7.7 µg/ml; day 2: 1.7 vs. 1.9 µg/ml). The platinum concentration in peritoneal fluid at the start of HIPEC differed twofold between patients and was positively correlated with systemic exposure (p = .04) and peak plasma concentration (p = .04).

Conclusion

In this exploratory study, no effect was found for postprocedural flushing on platinum concentrations in peritoneal tissue, blood, or drain fluid. BSA-based HIPEC procedure leads to large interpatient variability in platinum exposure in all compartments.

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 7 December 2017 under registration number NCT03364907.

Evaluation of Cell-detaching Effect of EDTA in Combination with Oxaliplatin for a Possible Application in HIPEC After Cytoreductive Surgery: A Preliminary in-vitro Study

BACKGROUND

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a commonly used compound in laboratory medicine, is known for its membrane-destabilization capacity and cell-detaching effect. This preliminary study aims to assess the potential of EDTA in removing residual tumor cell clusters. Using an in-vitro model, this effect is then compared to the cytotoxic effect of oxaliplatin which is routinely administered during HIPEC procedures. The overall cell toxicity and cell detaching effects of EDTA are compared to those of Oxaliplatin and the additive effect is quantified.

METHODS

HT-29 (ATCC® HTB-38™) cells were treated with A) EDTA only B) Oxaliplatin only and C) both agents using an in-vitro model. Cytotoxicity and cell detachment following EDTA application were measured via colorimetric MTS assay. Additionally, detached cell groups were visualized using light microscopy and further analyzed by means of electron microscopy.

RESULTS

When solely applied, EDTA does not exhibit any cell toxicity nor does it add any toxicity to oxaliplatin. However, EDTA enhances the detachment of adherent colon carcinoma cells by removing up to 65% (p<0.05) of the total initial cell amount. In comparison, the sole application of highly concentrated oxaliplatin induced cell mortality by up to 66% (p<0.05). While detached cells showed no mortality after EDTA treatment, cell clusters exhibited a decreased amount of extracellular and adhesive matrix in-between cells. When combined, Oxaliplatin and EDTA display a significant additive effect with only 30% (mean p <0.01) of residual vitality detected in the initial well. EDTA and Oxaliplatin remove up to 81% (p <0.01) of adhesive HT-29 cells from the surface either by cytotoxic effects or cell detachment.

CONCLUSION

Our data support EDTA's potential to remove microscopical tumor cell clusters from the peritoneum and possibly act as a supplementary agent in HIPEC procedures with chemotherapy. While adding EDTA to HIPEC procedures may significantly decrease the risk of PM recurrence, further in-vivo and clinical trials are required to evaluate this effect.

Colorectal peritoneal metastases: pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment options - an evidence-based update

Peritoneal metastases confer the worst survival among all sites in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. They develop largely through transcoelomic spread, with a sequence of events that allow cells to first detach from primary tumours, survive in the peritoneal environment, attach to the peritoneal surface of organs and migrate into the submesothelial space to create a microenvironment conducive to metastatic growth. Diagnostic challenges have previously hindered early identification of peritoneal metastases. While advances in diagnostic modalities have improved our ability to identify peritoneal metastases, lesions under 0.5 cm remain challenging to detect. The advent of cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can offer selected patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases a favourable long-term survival. Recent trials, however, have cast doubts on the efficacy of HIPEC, with the recent PRODIGE 7 trial showing no benefit from oxaliplatin based HIPEC in addition to good quality cytoreductive surgery in resectable disease. While peritoneal recurrence can be reliably predicted from high-risk features in primary tumours such as a perforated cancer, ovarian metastases or T4a cancers, the use of prophylactic second look surgery with HIPEC or adjuvant HIPEC failed to demonstrate any survival benefit in high-risk cases in recent clinical trials, raising further questions about the efficacy of HIPEC. With high failure rates from systemic chemotherapy in unresectable disease, novel surgical techniques such as pressurized intraperitoneal aerolized chemotherapy are being investigated in clinical trials worldwide. Further collaborative research is needed to explore newer avenues of treatment for this poor prognostic cohort.

Effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentration on morbidity and survival

BACKGROUND

Selected patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases are treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The concentration of intraperitoneal chemotherapy reflects the administered dose and perfusate volume. The aim of this study was to calculate intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentration during HIPEC and see whether this was related to clinical outcomes.

METHODS

An observational multicentre study included consecutive patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases who were treated with CRS-HIPEC between 2010 and 2018 at three Dutch centres. Data were retrieved from prospectively developed databases. Chemotherapy dose and total circulating volumes of carrier solution were used to calculate chemotherapy concentrations. Postoperative complications, disease-free and overall survival were correlated with intraoperative chemotherapy concentrations. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression, Cox regression and survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of 320 patients, 220 received intraperitoneal mitomycin C (MMC) and 100 received oxaliplatin. Median perfusate volume for HIPEC was 5·0 (range 0·7-10·0) litres. Median intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentration was 13·3 (range 7·0-76·0) mg/l for MMC and 156·0 (91·9-377·6) mg/l in patients treated with oxaliplatin. Grade III or higher complications occurred in 75 patients (23·4 per cent). Median overall survival was 36·9 (i.q.r. 19·5-62·9) months. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentrations were not associated with postoperative complications or survival.

CONCLUSION

CRS-HIPEC was performed with a wide variation in intraperitoneal chemotherapy concentrations that were not associated with complications or survival.

Periodic Oxaliplatin Administration in Synergy with PER2-Mediated PCNA Transcription Repression Promotes Chronochemotherapeutic Efficacy of OSCC

Developing chemotherapeutic resistance affects clinical outcomes of oxaliplatin treatment on various types of cancer. Thus, it is imperative to explore alternative therapeutic strategies to improve the efficacy of oxaliplatin. Here, it is shown that circadian regulator period 2 (PER2) can potentiate the cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin and boost cell apoptosis by inhibiting DNA adducts repair in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. The circadian timing system is closely involved in controling the activity of DNA adducts repair and gives it a 24 h rhythm. The mechanistic dissection clarifies that PER2 can periodically suppress proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) transcription by pulling down circadian locomotor output cycles kaput-brain and muscle arnt-like 1 heterodimer from PCNA promoter in a CRY1/2-dependent manner, which subsequently impedes oxaliplatin-induced DNA adducts repair. Similarly, PER2 is capable of improving the efficacy of classical DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. The tumor-bearing mouse model displays PER2 can be deployed as an oxaliplatin administration timing biomarker. In summary, it is believed that the chronochemotherapeutic strategy matching PER2 expression rhythm can efficiently improve the oxaliplatin efficacy of OSCC.

Adjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced colon cancer (COLOPEC): a multicentre, open-label, randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Nearly a quarter of patients with locally advanced (T4 stage) or perforated colon cancer are at risk of developing peritoneal metastases, often without curative treatment options. We aimed to determine the efficacy of adjuvant hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with locally advanced colon cancer.

METHODS

This multicentre, open-label trial was done in nine hospitals that specialised in HIPEC in the Netherlands. Patients with clinical or pathological T4N0-2M0-stage tumours or perforated colon cancer were randomly assigned (1:1), with a web-based randomisation application, before resection of the primary tumour, to adjuvant HIPEC followed by routine adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (experimental group) or to adjuvant systemic chemotherapy alone (control group). Patients were stratified by tumour characteristic (T4 or perforation), age (<65 years or ≥65 years), and surgical approach of the primary tumour resection (laparoscopic or open). Key eligibility criteria included age between 18 and 75 years, adequate clinical condition for HIPEC, and intention to start adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. Patients with metastatic disease were ineligible. Adjuvant HIPEC consisted of fluorouracil (400 mg/m²) and leucovorin (20 mg/m²) delivered intravenously followed by intraperitoneal delivery of oxaliplatin (460 mg/m²) for 30 min at 42°C, delivered simultaneously or within 5-8 weeks after primary tumour resection. In all patients without evidence of recurrent disease at 18 months, a diagnostic laparoscopy was done. The primary endpoint was peritoneal metastasis free-survival at 18 months, measured in the intention-to-treat population, with the Kaplan-Meier method. Adverse events were assessed in all patients who received assigned treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02231086.

FINDINGS

Between April 1, 2015, and Feb 20, 2017, 204 patients were randomly assigned to treatment (102 in each group). In the HIPEC group, two patients withdrew consent after randomisation. In this group, 19 (19%) of 100 patients were diagnosed with peritoneal metastases: nine (47%) during surgical exploration preceding intentional adjuvant HIPEC, eight (42%) during routine follow-up, and two (11%) during diagnostic laparoscopy at 18-months. In the control group, 23 (23%) of 102 patients were diagnosed with peritoneal metastases, of whom seven (30%) were diagnosed by laparoscopy at 18-months and 16 during regular follow-up (therefore making them ineligible for diagnostic laparoscopy). In the intention-to-treat analysis (n=202), there was no difference in peritoneal-free survival at 18-months (80·9% [95% CI 73·3-88·5] for the experimental group vs 76·2% [68·0-84·4] for the control group, log-rank one-sided p=0·28). 12 (14%) of 87 patients who received adjuvant HIPEC developed postoperative complications and one (1%) encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.

INTERPRETATION

In patients with T4 or perforated colon cancer, treatment with adjuvant HIPEC with oxaliplatin did not improve peritoneal metastasis-free survival at 18 months. Routine use of adjuvant HIPEC is not advocated on the basis of this trial.

FUNDING

Organization for Health Research and Development and the Dutch Cancer Society.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with cisplatin and mitomycin C for colorectal cancer peritoneal metastases: A systematic review of the literature

Background

The randomized trial PRODIGE 7 failed to show the benefit of oxaliplatin hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in colorectal peritoneal metastasis treatment (CR PM). This systematic review focuses on the association of cisplatin (CDDP) with mitomycin C (MMC) in HIPEC in CR PM.

Content

Experimental studies demonstrated that hyperthermia, in addition to CDDP ± MMC treatment, gradually improved the cytotoxic effect by increasing early apoptosis, eATP interaction, intracellular CDDP concentration (by 20%) and p73 expression. Recent studies with highly selected patients reported unusual prolonged survival with a median overall survival (OS) of approximately 60 months, with a HIPEC combination of CDDP (25 mg/m²/L) plus MMC (3.3 mg/m²/L) at a temperature of 41.5–42.5 °C for 60–90 min. Major complications occurred in less than 30% of patients with limited hematological toxicity (less than 15%). In addition, in a phase 2 trial, an adjuvant HIPEC benefit was demonstrated in colorectal cancer patients with high risk for peritoneal failure (5-year OS: 81.3% vs. 70% for the HIPEC group vs. the control group, respectively, p=0.047). After a recurrence, an iterative procedure permitted similar recurrence-free disease (13 vs. 13.7 months) with an acceptable morbidity (18.7% of severe complications).

Summary and outlook

The combination of CDDP and MMC seems to be an interesting protocol as an alternative to high-dose and short-term oxaliplatin.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin for peritoneal carcinomatosis: a clinical pharmacological perspective on a surgical procedure

Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has become the standard of care in the treatment of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin. The use of oxaliplatin for HIPEC has gained popularity. Although the HIPEC procedure is adopted throughout the world, major differences exist between treatment protocols regarding the carrier solution, perfusate volume, use of an open or closed technique, duration of the perfusion and application of additional flushing. These differences can influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oxaliplatin and might thereby have an impact on the efficacy and/or safety of the treatment. Clinicians should be aware of the clinical importance of oxaliplatin pharmacology when performing HIPEC surgery. This review adds new insights into the complex field of the pharmacology of HIPEC and highlights an important worldwide problem: the lack of standardization of the HIPEC procedure.