Semi-closed hyperthermic-antiblastic peritoneal perfusion (HAPP) in the treatment of peritoneal carcinosis

A narrative review of intraperitoneal chemotherapy and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal metastases in gastric cancer

Peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin is an aggressive tumor entity. Historically it has been considered a terminal disease with no long-term survival, due to limited therapeutic options. However, as a better understanding of tumor biology has evolved in recent years, novel multimodal treatment strategies incorporating intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy-hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC), neoadjuvant intraperitoneal-systemic chemotherapy protocol (NIPS)-and cytoreductive surgery (CRS) have demonstrated promising oncologic outcomes and even long-term survival in selected patients. Most of the studies published to date are retrospective in nature. These studies involve heterogenous patient populations, a wide variety of chemotherapeutic drugs, and show wide variation in outcomes between institutions. Thus, it is difficult to evaluate the results. This review summarizes our current knowledge regarding IP chemotherapy and CRS for peritoneal metastases (PM) in gastric cancer (GC). We describe our institutional treatment regimens. We also provide a brief overview of new, targeted therapies that may show promise in the future.

[Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in gastric cancer]

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer with peritoneal metastases is associated with an extremely poor prognosis. Developed multimodal treatment concepts, which include a combination of perioperative systemic treatment and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), show promising results with respect to improvement of the long-term survival.

METHODS

This article contains a review of the literature of published studies on the topic of gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis.

RESULTS

The prognosis of patients with gastric cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis shows an extremely limited median survival of 7 months under palliative second-line systemic treatment. The median survival time increased to 12 months with cytoreductive surgery and in combination with HIPEC showed a positive effect on survival in individual studies.

EXPERT OPINION

Treatment recommendations for patients with peritoneal metastases of gastric cancer should be carried out by experts in surgical reference centers.

Improved Outcome Prediction for Appendiceal Pseudomyxoma Peritonei by Integration of Cancer Cell and Stromal Transcriptional Profiles

In recent years, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have substantially improved the clinical outcome of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) originating from mucinous appendiceal cancer. However, current histopathological grading of appendiceal PMP frequently fails in predicting disease outcome. We recently observed that the integration of cancer cell transcriptional traits with those of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) improves prognostic prediction for tumors of the large intestine. We therefore generated global expression profiles on a consecutive series of 24 PMP patients treated with CRS plus HIPEC. Multiple lesions were profiled for nine patients. We then used expression data to stratify the samples by a previously published “high-risk appendiceal cancer” (HRAC) signature and by a CAF signature that we previously developed for colorectal cancer, or by a combination of both. The prognostic value of the HRAC signature was confirmed in our cohort and further improved by integration of the CAF signature. Classification of cases profiled for multiple lesions revealed the existence of outlier samples and highlighted the need of profiling multiple PMP lesions to select representative samples for optimal performances. The integrated predictor was subsequently validated in an independent PMP cohort. These results provide new insights into PMP biology, revealing a previously unrecognized prognostic role of the stromal component and supporting integration of standard pathological grade with the HRAC and CAF transcriptional signatures to better predict disease outcome.

The use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric malignancies

Introduction: Gastric cancer is the fourth/fifth most common malignancy worldwide, with only a quarter of patients achieving a 5-year survival rate. It has been estimated that 15-50% or more of patients have peritoneal disease upon surgical exploration. Until the early 1990s, peritoneal metastasis was considered as terminal stage of the disease; in the late 1990s, selected patients with peritoneal metastasis were recategorized as local disease. Over the past two decades, the treatment of peritoneal involvement has transformed, and cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal therapy have drastically altered the natural course of several malignancies. Areas covered: We performed a review of studies available on PubMed from 1 January 2014 to 31 July 2019 and the analysis of their reference citations. We describe the most current intraperitoneal chemotherapy opportunities in the treatment of gastric cancer: hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (LHIPEC), neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy (NIPS), LHIPEC + NIPS, extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL), early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC), and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). Expert opinion: Comprehensive treatment consisting of CRS combined with perioperative intraperitoneal/systemic chemotherapy can, today, be considered an effective strategy to improve the long-term survival of gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: morbidity and postoperative outcomes

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) represents a treatment option for peritoneal surface malignancies. Even if it has been reported that this new approach improved survival of selected patients, it is still associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.

METHODS

From October 1995 to December 2017, over 450 patients affected by peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) underwent in our Institute CRS associated with HIPEC. For this preliminary analysis we considered 300 patients presenting PC of different origin: pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP, N.=98), epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC, N.=87), peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM, N.=49) and colorectal cancer (CRC, N.=66). Postoperative morbidity and mortality were studied in order to identify possible risk factors.

RESULTS

The morbidity rate was 36.3% in all procedures (109/300). According to the Clavien-Dindo Classification, 67 cases (22.3%) were associated with grade I-II complications and 35 cases (11.7%) with grade III-IV. Surgical and medical complication rates were 8.3% (25/300) and 11.3% (34/300), respectively. The mortality rate was 2.3%. Reoperation was needed in 28 patients (9.3%). The operative time, the number of anastomosis, of peritonectomy procedures, of visceral resections performed and the PCI value resulted the most statistically significant factors influencing postoperative morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality after CRS and HIPEC are analogous to any other major gastrointestinal surgery. CRS and HIPEC should remain a treatment option for highly-selected patients in whom a curative or life prolonging treatment is a pursuit and should be performed in high volume specialized institutions.

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

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

Iterative procedures combining cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for isolated peritoneal recurrence

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to analyse feasibility, morbidity and outcome of repeat complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). CRS combined with HIPEC is becoming the gold standard treatment for resectable peritoneal carcinomatosis in highly selected patients. As yet treatment of isolated peritoneal recurrence with iterative CRS and HIPEC has not been thoroughly explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We selected 16 patients presenting isolated peritoneal recurrence who had undergone iterative CRS and HIPEC from a dataset of 322 CRS associated with HIPEC performed between 1996 and 2012.

RESULTS

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) was due to colorectal and ovarian cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). Disease-free survival (DFS) was 13 months after the first procedure and 13.7 months after the second one. Overall morbidity rate was 43.7% (7/16) for all patients, with grade III-IV complications in three patients (18.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Iterative procedures combining cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC are feasible with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates in strictly selected patients. DFS following repeated CRS and HIPEC is comparable to that registered after the first procedure.

Rationale and techniques of cytoreductive surgery and peritoneal chemohyperthermia

The evolution of loco-regional treatments has occurred in the last two decades and has deeply changed the natural history of primitive and secondary peritoneal surface malignancies. Several phase II-III studies have proved the effectiveness of the combination of cytoreductive surgery with peritoneal chemohyperthermia. Cytoreductive surgery allows the reduction of the neoplastic mass and increases tumoral chemosensitivity. The development of chemohyperthermia finds its origins in the necessity to exceed the limits of intraperitoneal chemotherapy performed in normothermia. It permits a continuous high concentration gradient of chemotherapeutic drugs between the peritoneal cavity and the plasma compartment to and a more uniform distribution throughout the abdominal cavity compared to systemic administration.

Multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: outcomes and patho-biological features in a multi-institutional series treated by cytoreductive surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

AIM

This retrospective multi-institutional study addresses the role of surgical cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (MCPM). MCPM is an uncommon tumour with uncertain malignant potential and no current standard therapy. Additionally, poorly defined pathological and biological features of this disease were investigated.

METHODS

Twelve patients with MCPM underwent 14 procedures of cytoreduction and HIPEC in two Italian referral centres. Nine patients had recurrent disease after previous debulking (one operation in six patients, two in two, four in one). Biological markers related to mesothelioma origin and clinical features were assessed by immunohistochemical studies.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 64 months (range 5-148). Optimal cytoreduction (residual tumour nodules ≤2.5 mm) was performed in all the procedures. One grade IV postoperative complication (NCI/CTCAE v.3.0) and no operative death occurred. All the patients are presently alive with no evidence of disease, including two patients who underwent the procedure twice, due to locoregional disease recurrence. Five- and ten-year progression-free survival was 90% and 72%, accounting for a. statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001) with progression-free survival following previous debulking surgery (median 11 months; range 2-31). All cases showed low proliferative activity assessed by mitotic rate and Ki-67 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

MCPM is a borderline tumour with a high propensity to local-regional recurrence. Definitive tumour eradication by means of cytoreduction and HIPEC seems more effective than debulking surgery in preventing disease relapse. Low mitotic rate and poor Ki-67 expression might be related to the peculiar behaviour of MCMP.

Cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from pseudomyxoma peritonei

AIM: To investigate the most important aspects of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) that has been accepted as the standard treatment for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), with special regard to morbidity, overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) over 10 years.

METHODS: Fifty-three patients affected by PMP underwent cytoreduction (CCR) and HIPEC with a “semi-closed” abdomen technique in our institution. The peritonectomy procedure and completeness of CCR were classified according to Sugarbaker criteria. Preoperative evaluation always included thoracic and abdominal CT scan to stage peritoneal disease and exclude distant metastases. Fifty-one patients in our series were treated with a protocol based on administration of cisplatinum 100 mg/m² plus mitomycin C 16 mg/m², at a temperature of 41.5°C for 60 min. Anastomoses were always performed at the end of HIPEC. The mean duration of surgery was 12 h including HIPEC. Continuous monitoring of hepatic and renal functions and hydroelectrolytic balance was performed in the postoperative period.

RESULTS: Twenty-four patients presented with postoperative complications: surgical morbidity was observed in 16 patients and 6 patients were re-operated. All complications were successfully treated and no postoperative deaths were observed. Risk factors for postoperative morbidity were considered to be gender, age, body surface, duration of surgery, Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and tumor residual value (CC score). No statistically significant correlation was found during the multivariate analysis: only the CC score was statistically significant. The OS in our experience was 81.8%, with a DFS of 80% at 5 years and of 70% at 10 years.

CONCLUSION: In our experience, even if HIPEC combined with cytoreductive surgery involves a high risk of morbidity, postoperative complications can be resolved favorably in most cases with correct patient selection and adequate postoperative care, thus minimizing mortality. The association of CCR and HIPEC can be considered as the standard treatment for PMP. The OS and DFS results confirm the validity of this combined approach for the treatment of this rare neoplasm. The impact of preoperative chemotherapy on OS, in our opinion, is due to a major aggressiveness of tumors in treated patients.