Dedicated MRI staging versus surgical staging of peritoneal metastases in colorectal cancer patients considered for CRS-HIPEC; the DISCO randomized multicenter trial

First-line palliative systemic therapy alternated with oxaliplatin-based pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy for unresectable colorectal peritoneal metastases: A single-arm phase II trial (CRC-PIPAC-II)

BACKGROUND

Palliative systemic therapy alternated with electrostatic precipitation oxaliplatin-based pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (ePIPAC) has never been prospectively investigated in patients with unresectable colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM). The CRC-PIPAC-II study aimed to assess safety, feasibility and efficacy of such bidirectional therapy.

METHODS

This two-center, single-arm, phase II trial enrolled chemotherapy-naïve patients to undergo three treatment cycles, consisting of systemic therapy (CAPOX, FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, or FOLFOXIRI, all with bevacizumab) and oxaliplatin-based ePIPAC (92 mg/m2) with intravenous leucovorin (20 mg/m2) and 5-fluorouracil (400 mg/m2). Primary outcome were major treatment-related adverse events. Secondary outcomes included minor events, tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Twenty patients completed 52 treatment cycles. Fifteen major events occurred in 7 patients (35 %): 5 events (33 %) related to systemic therapy; 5 (33 %) related to ePIPAC; and 5 (33 %) were biochemical events. No treatment-related deaths occurred. All patients experienced minor events, mostly abdominal pain, nausea and peripheral sensory neuropathy. After treatment, radiological, pathological, cytological, and biochemical response was observed in 0 %, 88 %, 38 %, and 31 % of patients respectively. Curative surgery was achieved in one patient. Median PFS was 10.0 months (95 % confidence interval [CI] 8.0-13.0) and median OS was 17.5 months (95 % CI 13.0-not reached).

CONCLUSIONS

Combining palliative systemic therapy with oxaliplatin-based ePIPAC in patients with unresectable CPM was feasible and showed an acceptable safety profile. Treatment-induced response and survival are promising, yet further research is required to determine the additional value of ePIPAC to systemic therapy.

An observational cohort of patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases or pseudomyxoma peritonei treated with CRS-HIPEC: Development and first results of the Dutch CRS-HIPEC quality registry

INTRODUCTION

To improve care for patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRC-PM) or pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), the Dutch CRS-HIPEC quality registry was initiated in 2019. The aims are to describe the development and content of this registry and to give insight into the data collected during the first years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The registry is an observational cohort in the Netherlands. All patients with CRC-PM or PMP who intend to undergo cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) from 6 hospitals are included. Clinical data and outcomes (including hospital variation) were analyzed.

RESULTS

In 2019-2022, 889 patients were included in the CRS-HIPEC quality registry: 749 (84 %) with CRC-PM and 140 (16 %) with PMP. Peritoneal metastases were diagnosed synchronously in 51 % of CRC-PM patients and in 94 % of PMP patients. In patients undergoing complete CRS, the median peritoneal cancer index was 8 (IQR 4-13) for CRC-PM and 15 (IQR 6-26) for PMP. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in 639 CRC-PM patients (97 %) and 108 PMP patients (82 %). HIPEC was mainly performed with mitomycin C (CRC-PM: 94 %, PMP: 92 %). Major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3) occurred in 148 CRC-PM patients (22 %) and 30 PMP patients (23 %) with 90-day mortality rates of 2 %. In CRC-PM, differences between hospitals were observed regarding proportions of diagnostic laparoscopies/laparotomies, (neo)adjuvant treatment, ostomy formations and re-admissions.

CONCLUSION

The CRS-HIPEC quality registry provides insight into the outcomes of CRS-HIPEC and enables clinical auditing and observational cohort studies aiming to improve treatment outcomes for patients with CRC-PM and PMP.

Investigating locations of recurrences with MRI after CRS-HIPEC for colorectal peritoneal metastases

PURPOSE

Patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (PM) treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are at high risk of recurrent disease. Understanding where and why recurrences occur is the first step in finding solutions to reduce recurrence rates. Although diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI is not routinely used in the follow-up of CRC patients, it has a clear advantage over CT in detecting the location and spread of (recurrent) PM. This study aimed to identify common locations of recurrence in CRC patients after CRS-HIPEC with MRI.

METHOD

This was a single-centre retrospective study of patients with recurrent PM after CRS-HIPEC performed between January 2016 and August 2020. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they had both an MRI preoperatively (MRI1) and at the time of recurrent disease (MRI2). Two abdominal radiologists reviewed in consensus and categorized recurrences according to their location on MRI2 and in correlation with previous disease location on prior imaging (MRI1) and the surgical report of the CRS-HIPEC.

RESULTS

Thirty patients were included, with a median surgical PCI of 7 (range 3-21) at the time of primary CRS-HIPEC. In total, 68 recurrent metastases were detected on MRI2, of which 14 were extra-peritoneal. Of the remaining 54 PM, 42 (78%) occurred where the peritoneum was damaged due to earlier resections or other surgical procedures (e.g. inserted surgical abdominal drains). Most recurrent metastases were found in the mesentery, lower abdomen/pelvis and abdominal wall (87%).

CONCLUSIONS

Most recurrent PMs appeared in the mesentery, lower abdomen/pelvis and abdominal wall, especially where the peritoneum was previously damaged.

Predictive factors of non-completion of cytoreductive surgery in colorectal peritoneal metastasis

INTRODUCTION

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) ± hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the only potentially curative treatment that can improve the survival prognosis for patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) of colorectal origin. The main independent prognostic factors are extent of disease, as measured by the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI), and completion of CRS (CC-0 or R1). Despite thorough preoperative work-up for selection of surgical candidates, 20%-25 % of CRS procedures are stopped after exploration during laparotomy. These patients undergo "open-and-close" procedures associated with a risk of complications and without any benefit. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of non-resectability and/or non-completion of CRS in patients with colorectal PMs who were candidates for surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective, monocentric study including patients admitted for CRS ± HIPEC at the Jules Bordet Institute between January 01, 2010 and December 31, 2021. The preoperative epidemiological, pathological, clinical, radiological, and biological features of patients with unresectable disease were compared with those of patients treated with CRS.

RESULTS

One hundred nineteen patients were included, 60 men and 59 women (median age 61 years). Twenty-one CRS procedures (17.65 %) were stopped during exploratory laparotomy. Statistically significant factors associated with non-completion were age (p = 0.0183), PCI (p = 0.0001), presence of sub/occlusive episode(s) prior to CRS (p = 0.0012), and multifocal-diffuse uptakes on PET-scan (p = 0.0017).

CONCLUSION

Almost 18 % of patients had an "open-and-close" procedure. PCI was the major determinant of non-completion of CRS. Other predictive factors of unresectability of colorectal PM were age, the presence of sub/occlusive episodes, and PET/CT with multiple peritoneal uptakes.

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Metastases from Colorectal Cancer-An Overview of Current Status and Future Perspectives

Peritoneal metastases (PM) are observed in approximately 8% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, either synchronously or metachronously during follow-up. PM often manifests as the sole site of metastasis. PM is associated with a poor prognosis and typically shows resistance to systemic chemotherapy. Consequently, there has been a search for alternative treatment strategies. This review focuses on the global evolution of the combined approach involving cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the management of PM. It encompasses accepted clinical guidelines, principles for patient selection, surgical and physiological considerations, biomarkers, pharmacological protocols, and treatment outcomes. Additionally, it integrates the relevant literature and findings from previous studies. The role of CRS and HIPEC, in conjunction with other therapies such as neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, is discussed, along with the management of patients presenting with oligometastatic disease. Furthermore, potential avenues for future development in this field are explored.

Head-To-Head Comparison of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT and FDG PET/CT for the Detection of Peritoneal Metastases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND. FDG PET/CT has limited diagnostic performance in the detection of peritoneal metastasis (PM). Gallium-68-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) targets tumor stroma, leading to high accumulation across cancer types. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to compare the diagnostic performances of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT and FDG PET/CT in detecting PM on the basis of studies providing head-to-head comparisons between the two tests. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched through July 2022 to identify studies reporting head-to-head comparison of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT and FDG PET/CT for detection of PM. The reference standard was classified as histopathology for all patients or as a combination of histopathologic, clinical, imaging, laboratory, and follow-up information (multidisciplinary reference standard). A random-effects statistical model was applied to conduct a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performances of the tests in patient-based and lesion-based analyses. The QUADAS-2 and QUADAS Comparative tools were used to assess study quality. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS. Eleven studies were included. Patient-based analysis was reported in nine studies including 340 patients, and lesion-based analysis was reported in four studies including 222 lesions. The pooled sensitivity of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT was significantly higher than that of FDG PET/CT in patient-based analysis (98.2% [95% CI, 96.1-100.0%] vs 55.9% [95% CI, 33.9-77.9%]) and lesion-based analysis (99.9% [95% CI, 99.5-100.0%] vs 27.3% [95% CI, 11.2-43.4%]). Eight studies were rated at high risk of bias in the reference standard domain because the multidisciplinary reference standard was not sufficiently explained and may have included one of the two index tests, which would have artificially increased sensitivity. In three studies specificity was reported as 100.0% for both tests; these studies were considered at uncertain risk of bias in the patient selection domain because patients with benign peritoneal conditions may have been excluded, resulting in underestimation of potential false-positive results. CONCLUSION. The current evidence suggests excellent sensitivity of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT for the detection of PM in comparison with poorer sensitivity of FDG PET/CT. However, most included studies had high risk of bias. Further studies are needed to more convincingly characterize true- and false-positive results. CLINICAL IMPACT. The sensitivity of ⁶⁸Ga-FAPI PET/CT may be substantially greater than that of FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of PM, facilitating surgical planning and candidate selection.

Radiologic staging of peritoneal and retroperitoneal disease

Peritoneal and retroperitoneal tumors consist of a heterogenous group of benign and malignant lesions of different origin. Due to often complex multidisciplinary treatment concepts in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies radiological imaging plays a pivotal role regarding the therapeutic options. Moreover, tumor entity, abdominal tumor distribution and common as well as rare differential diagnoses have to be taken into account. Using different radiological modalities non-invasive pretherapeutic diagnostics might be significantly improved. KEY POINTS::   · Diagnostic CT is a valuable part of the initial diagnostic approach to peritoneal surface malignancies.. · Sensitivity might be increased by the additional use of dwMRI and PET/CT considering tumor entity and individual diagnostic issues.. · The Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) should be determined independent of radiologic modality.. CITATION FORMAT: · Glockzin G, Helmberger T. Radiologic staging of peritoneal and retroperitoneal disease. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; DOI: 10.1055/a-1999-7057.

Patterns and Timing of Recurrence following CRS and HIPEC in Colorectal Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis

INTRODUCTION

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) is an established treatment of Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases (CRPM). This study aims to determine the timing and patterns of recurrent disease on imaging following complete CRS/HIPEC.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a national peritoneal tumour service database identified CRPM patients with complete CRS/HIPEC(CC0) from 2005 to-2018. Patients with<2 years follow-up or and those where post-operative histology from the CRS/HIPEC procedure did not confirm CRPM from their original colorectal cancer were excluded. Time to recurrence was measured from surgery to first radiologically illustrated recurrence. CT was the primary modality used, supplemented by PET-CT or MRI if required. Outcomes of interest were survival data (including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and peritoneal-recurrence free survival (PRFS)), timing and patterns of recurrent disease.

RESULTS

146 of the 176 patients identified were eligible for inclusion. Median OS for all study patients was 45.2 months (95% CI 38-53 months), median DFS was 11.7 months (95% CI 9-14 months), and median PRFS was 25.2 months (95% CI 14.7-30 months). Recurrent disease was seen in 112 cases (77%), radiologically classified as intraperitoneal in 50 patients (44%), single site systemic in 21 patients (19%) and multi-site in 41 patients (37%). CT detection rate for disease recurrence was 88%. Subgroup analyses showed that PCI ≥12, positive nodal primary disease and synchronous peritoneal disease were associated with worse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Patients selected for CRS/HIPEC for CRPM have an OS > 45 months, with the majority recurring systemically within a year. Peritoneal recurrence is a later event after several years. Surveillance programs in this group should be most intensive in the first 2 years after surgery, using CT with oral and intravenous contrast.

Advances in the management of peritoneal malignancies

Peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs) are usually associated with a poor prognosis. Nonetheless, in line with advances in the management of most abdominopelvic metastatic diseases, considerable progress has been made over the past decade. An improved understanding of disease biology has led to the more accurate prediction of neoplasia aggressiveness and the treatment response and has been reflected in the proposal of new classification systems. Achieving complete cytoreductive surgery remains the cornerstone of curative-intent treatment of PSMs. Alongside centralization in expert centres, enabling the delivery of multimodal and multidisciplinary strategies, preoperative management is a crucial step in order to select patients who are most likely to benefit from surgery. Depending on the specific PSM, the role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy and of perioperative systemic chemotherapy, in particular, in the neoadjuvant setting, is established in certain scenarios but questioned in several others, although more prospective data are required. In this Review, we describe advances in all aspects of the management of PSMs including disease biology, assessment and improvement of disease resectability, perioperative management, systemic therapy and pre-emptive management, and we speculate on future research directions.

In Patients Undergoing CRS/HIPEC for Colorectal Adenocarcinoma with Peritoneal Metastases, Presence of Ascites on Computed Tomography Imaging is not a Prognostic Marker for Survival

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a potentially curative treatment for patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM). Patient selection is key to optimizing outcomes after CRS/HIPEC. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of ascites diagnosed on preoperative imaging.

Methods

A prospective database of patients eligible for CRS/HIPEC between 2010 and 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. The presence of ascites, postoperative complications, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and completeness of cytoreduction were assessed. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors for outcome.

Results

Of the 235 included patients, 177 (75%) underwent CRS/HIPEC while 58 (25%) were not eligible for CRS/HIPEC. In 42 of the 177 patients (24%) who underwent CRS/HIPEC, ascites was present on preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging. Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score was significantly higher in patients with preoperative ascites compared with patients without (11 [range 2–30] vs. 9 [range 0–28], respectively; p = 0.011) and complete cytoreduction was more often achieved in patients without ascites (96.3% vs. 85.7%; p = 0.007). There was no significant difference in median DFS and OS after CRS/HIPEC between patients with and without ascites {10 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.1–12.9) vs. 9 months (95% CI 7.2–10.8), and 25 months (95% 9.4–40.6) vs. 27 months (95% CI 22.4–31.6), respectively}.

Conclusions

Ascites on preoperative imaging was not associated with worse survival in CRS/HIPEC patients with CRPM. Therefore, excluding patients from CRS/HIPEC based merely on the presence of ascites is not advisable.

Magnetic Fields and Cancer: Epidemiology, Cellular Biology, and Theranostics

Humans are exposed to a complex mix of man-made electric and magnetic fields (MFs) at many different frequencies, at home and at work. Epidemiological studies indicate that there is a positive relationship between residential/domestic and occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and some types of cancer, although some other studies indicate no relationship. In this review, after an introduction on the MF definition and a description of natural/anthropogenic sources, the epidemiology of residential/domestic and occupational exposure to MFs and cancer is reviewed, with reference to leukemia, brain, and breast cancer. The in vivo and in vitro effects of MFs on cancer are reviewed considering both human and animal cells, with particular reference to the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). MF application on cancer diagnostic and therapy (theranostic) are also reviewed by describing the use of different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications for the detection of several cancers. Finally, the use of magnetic nanoparticles is described in terms of treatment of cancer by nanomedical applications for the precise delivery of anticancer drugs, nanosurgery by magnetomechanic methods, and selective killing of cancer cells by magnetic hyperthermia. The supplementary tables provide quantitative data and methodologies in epidemiological and cell biology studies. Although scientists do not generally agree that there is a cause-effect relationship between exposure to MF and cancer, MFs might not be the direct cause of cancer but may contribute to produce ROS and generate oxidative stress, which could trigger or enhance the expression of oncogenes.