Impact of Perioperative Systemic Chemotherapy on Survival for Patients Who have Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treated with CRS-HIPEC

BACKGROUND

The available data on the role of perioperative systemic chemotherapy (SC) for diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) patients undergoing (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is heterogeneous and unstandardized. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SC on the survival outcomes of DMPM patients undergoing CRS-HIPEC and to identify prognostic factors that affect the decision to administer SC.

METHODS

Patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC in the National Cancer Institute Milan (1995-2020) were retrospectively analyzed using propensity score-matching of known covariates. The patients were grouped into three groups: group A (neoadjuvant chemotherapy [NACT] and no-SC), group B (no-SC and adjuvant chemotherapy [ACT]), and group C (NACT and ACT). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meir method, and prognostic factors were calculated using the Cox-regression method.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up period of 45 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.348-83.652 months) for group A, 115 months (95% CI, 44.379-185.621 months) for group B, and 88 months (95% CI, 3.296-172.704 months) for group C, the study analyzed 154 DMPM patients consisting of matched group A (NACT: 60 + no-SC: 52 = 112), group B (ACT: 38 + no-SC: 38 = 76), and group C (NACT: 31 + ACT: 31 = 62). The patients undergoing ACT had better 5-year OS and PFS than the patients undergoing NACT. In the multivariate analysis, ACT was significantly associated with improved OS by 48% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.280-0.965, p = 0.038). For PFS, the association of ACT did not reach statistical significance (HR, 0.531; 95% CI, 0.266-1.058; p = 0.072).

CONCLUSION

The optimum treatment sequence for DMPM is CRS-HIPEC followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk patients. Upfront surgery appears preferable to NACT for patients amenable to complete CRS.

Open versus Closed technique for administration of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): Morbidity and Mortality outcomes from a high-volume centre

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an established treatment in selected patients with peritoneal metastases, delivered in the UK in specialist centres. HIPEC can be administered via the open coliseum technique as first described by Sugarbaker (O-HIPEC) or using a closed technique (C-HIPEC). Data comparing the safety and outcomes of these different approaches is limited. This study aims to compare morbidity and mortality rates of O-HIPEC and C-HIPEC following CRS for peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer and appendiceal tumours.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing CRS with open (05/2019-04/2020) and closed (05/2020-04/2021) HIPEC were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Baseline data including primary pathology, HIPEC agent and major operative procedures were analysed using Chi-squared and Fishers exact tests to ensure comparability of groups. Primary outcomes were 30- and 60-day postoperative mortality and morbidity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, CTCAE). Secondary outcomes were length of critical care and overall hospital stay. In addition, morbidity and mortality were compared between HIPEC agents (mitomycin and oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil).

RESULTS

99 patients (39.3%) and 153 patients (60.7%) underwent O-HIPEC, C-HIPEC respectively. Groups were well matched for baseline demographics, pathology, and HIPEC agent. In the O-HIPEC and C-HIPEC groups respectively, the incidence of 60-day complications (CTCAE 1-4) was 40.4% vs 39.3% (chi squared 0.94) and severe complications (CTCAE 3-4) 14% vs 13% (Fisher's exact p = 1) There was no perioperative mortality but one death in each group within the follow up period. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality between those receiving mitomycin or oxaliplatin.

CONCLUSION

Closed administration of HIPEC is safe with no difference in post-operative morbidity or mortality compared to open HIPEC administration. Differences in longer term oncological outcomes including overall survival and disease-free survival between open and closed HIPEC techniques are yet to be determined.

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Recirculation with CO2: A Safe Technique

Introduction: Hyperthermic IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) has evolved as a treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis in various tumors after a careful and complete cytoreductive surgery, and it demonstrated much better and longer survival than more traditional therapeutic schemas. Our objective has been to examine the safety, efficacy and survival achieved with closed technique with CO₂-agitation system Combat PRS^® (Peritoneal Recirculation System: PRS). To achieve this, we compared the appearance of adverse events, mortality and survival with the described using classic techniques (open, closed without CO₂-agitation) for the treatment of selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis; Materials and methods: We studied overall survival, disease-free survival and safety (morbidity and mortality) of the administration of HIPEC through a closed method technique with CO₂ recirculation (Combat PRS^®) in 482 patients from 11 Spanish hospitals; Results: The mortality of our technique (1.66%) was similar to other published techniques (open, closed). Morbidity exhibited a 9.96% rate of Clavien-Dindo (CD) III/IV complications in 482 patients, which was lower than in other series. Survival (overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS)) was similar to previously published results: 86% 1y-OS, 54% 3y-OS, 77% 1y-DFS and 31% 3y-DFS; Conclusion: The procedure with closed PRS with CO₂ agitation is as safe as standard open and closed procedures for the administration of HIPEC after complete cytoreductive surgery, with similar and very low mortality (1.66%) and lower morbidity (9.96% CD III and IV in our series vs range of 20–40% in the majority of different series); only Kusamura had similar results, with 12% in 205 patients, using the closed technique without CO₂ agitation).

The effect of the learning curve of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in treating colorectal peritoneal metastasis

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) are increasingly utilised in the management of colorectal peritoneal metastases (CPM). This combined modality is associated with a significant learning curve (LC) and is often criticised for its associated morbidity. This study aims to inspect the LC of this procedure in our institute.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the institution's prospectively maintained database of CRS-HIPEC cases was performed. Patients treated for CPM were stratified into two groups: Group 1 consists of patients in our initial 100 cases of CRS-HIPEC and Group 2 comprises patients treated subsequently. Perioperative prognostic factors and oncological outcomes were analysed.

RESULTS

Between 2001 and 2016, 77 patients with CPM underwent CRS-HIPEC, of which 31 patients (40.3%) were in Group 1 and 46 patients (59.7%) in Group 2. Median follow-up duration was 96 months in Group 1 and 25 months in Group 2. There were no differences in OS (35 months vs 46 months, p = 0.054) and DFS (13 months vs 14 months, p = 0.676) between the groups. There were more patients with higher PCI (≥12) (57.1% vs 22.2%, p = 0.006) and high-grade complications (25.8% vs 8.7%, p = 0.045) in Group 1. Group 2 patients had a shorter hospitalisation (14 days vs 11 days, p = 0.015) and SICU stay (1 day vs 0 days, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

An improvement in the perioperative outcomes after CRS-HIPEC for CPM may be partly attributed to overcoming the LC and incorporation of better patient selection methods.

Cytoreductive Surgery Combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer

Peritoneal metastasis from colorectal cancer (PM-CRC) is used to be considered a systemic and fatal condition; however, it has been growingly accepted that PM-CRC can still be local disease rather than systemic disease as analogous to liver or lung metastasis. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is now considered an optimal treatment for PM-CRC with accumulating evidence. There is a good reason that CRS + HIPEC, widely accepted as a standard of care for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), could be a viable option for PM-CRC given a similarity between PM-CRC and PMP. Recent years have also seen that modern systemic chemotherapy with or without molecular targeted agents can be effective for PM-CRC. It is possible that neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy combined with CRS + HIPEC could further improve outcomes. Patient selection, utilizing modern images and increasingly laparoscopy, is crucial. Particularly, diagnostic laparoscopy is likely to play a significant role in predicting the likelihood of achieving complete cytoreduction and assessing the peritoneal cancer index score.

Prognostic Factors Influencing Infectious Complications after Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC: Results from a Tertiary Referral Center

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) showed promising results in selected patients. High morbidity restrains its wide application. The aim of this study was to report postoperative infectious complications and investigate possible correlations with the preoperative nutritional status and other prognostic factors in patients with peritoneal metastases treated with CRS and HIPEC.

Methods

For the study, we reviewed the clinical records of all patients with peritoneal metastases from different primary cancers treated with CRS and HIPEC in our Institution from November 2000 to December 2017. Patients were divided according to their nutritional status (SGA) into groups A (well-nourished) and B/C (mild or severely malnourished, respectively). Possible statistical correlations between risk factors and postoperative complication rates have been investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

Two hundred patients were selected and underwent CRS and HIPEC during the study period. Postoperative complications occurred in 44% of the patients, 35.3% in SGA-A patients, and 53% in SGA-B/C patients. Cause of complications was infective in 42, noninfective in 37, and HIPEC related in 9 patients. Infectious complications occurred more frequently in SGA-B/C patients (32.6% vs. 9.8% of SGA-A patients). The most frequent sites of infection were surgical site infections (SSI, 35.7%) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI, 26.2%). The most frequent isolated species was Candida (22.8%). ASA score, blood loss, performance status, PCI, large bowel resection, postoperative serum albumin levels, and nutritional status correlated with higher risk for postoperative infectious complications.

Conclusions

Malnourished patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are more prone to postoperative infectious complications, and adequate perioperative nutritional support should be considered, including immune-enhancing nutrition. Sequential monitoring of common sites of infection, antifungal prevention of candidiasis, and careful patient selection should be implemented to reduce the complication rate.

Failure-to-Rescue Following Cytoreductive Surgery with or Without HIPEC is Determined by the Type of Complication-a Retrospective Study by INDEPSO

To determine factors influencing failure-to-rescue in patients with complications following cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. A retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in the Indian HIPEC registry was performed. Complications were graded according to the CTCAE classification version 4.3. The 30- and 90-day morbidity were both recorded. Three hundred seventy-eight patients undergoing CRS with/without HIPEC for peritoneal metastases from various primary sites, between January 2013 and December 2017 were included. The median PCI was 11 [range 0-39] and a CC-0/1 resection was achieved in 353 (93.5%). Grade 3-4 morbidity was seen 95 (25.1%) at 30 days and 122 (32.5%) at 90 days. The most common complications were pulmonary complications (6.8%), neutropenia (3.7%), systemic sepsis (3.4%), anastomotic leaks (1.5%), and spontaneous bowel perforations (1.3%). Twenty-five (6.6%) patients died within 90 days of surgery due to complications. The failure-to-rescue rate was 20.4%. Pulmonary complications (p = 0.03), systemic sepsis (p < 0.001), spontaneous bowel perforations (p < 0.001) and PCI > 20 (p = 0.002) increased the risk of failure-to-rescue. The independent predictors were spontaneous bowel perforation (p = 0.05) and systemic sepsis (p = 0.001) and PCI > 20 (p = 0.02). The primary tumor site did not have an impact on the FTR rate (p = 0.09) or on the grade 3-4 morbidity (p = 0.08). Nearly one-fifth of the patients who developed complications succumbed to them. Systemic sepsis, spontaneous bowel perforations, and pulmonary complications increased the risk of FTR and multidisciplinary teams should develop protocols to prevent, identify, and effectively treat such complications. All surgeons pursuing this specialty should perform a regular audit of their results, irrespective of their experience.

Referral and treatment pathways for pseudomyxoma peritonei of appendiceal origin within a national treatment programme

AIM

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare neoplasm of the appendix, which if untreated disseminates throughout the abdominal cavity and generates considerable morbidity. Since 2002 in the UK, patients with PMP have been managed via two nationally commissioned centres. We evaluated referrals and treatment pathways over time at the Manchester centre.

METHOD

Data from all patients referred with suspected PMP were prospectively collected (2002-2015). Definitive treatment was cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Disease burden was quantified using the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) (score 0-39) and complete cytoreduction (CC) defined by scores of 0/1. Novel treatment algorithms were developed for patients with low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) localized to the peri-appendiceal tissue.

RESULTS

In all, 817 patients with confirmed PMP were referred increasing from 11 in 2002 to 103 in 2015. Disease burden was high with a mean PCI of 31 in the first quartile (Q1), levelling off to 15, 15, 17 thereafter (P = 0.002). The proportion of CC0/1 increased from 67% in Q1 to 77% Q2 and 74% Q3/4. Where complete cytoreduction was achieved, 5- and 10-year overall survival was 77% and 66%. The proportion of patients referred with localized LAMN increased over time reaching 25% each year since 2010 (P_trend  < 0.0001). Two-thirds of localized LAMN now undergo laparoscopically assisted risk-reducing CRS.

CONCLUSION

The establishment of a national treatment centre was associated with an initial presentation of patients with advanced disease. The programme has demonstrated a clear trend over time towards earlier referral and adoption of minimally invasive techniques for localized disease.

Perioperative Systemic Chemotherapy, Cytoreductive Surgery, and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Patients With Colorectal Peritoneal Metastasis: Results of the Prospective Multicenter Phase 2 COMBATAC Trial

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) as parts of an interdisciplinary treatment concept including systemic chemotherapy can improve survival of selected patients with peritoneal metastatic colorectal cancer (pmCRC). Nevertheless, the sequence of the therapeutic options is still a matter of debate. Thus, the COMBATAC (COMBined Anticancer Treatment of Advanced Colorectal cancer) trial was conducted to evaluate a combined treatment regimen consisting of preoperative systemic polychemotherapy + cetuximab followed by CRS + HIPEC and postoperative systemic polychemotherapy + cetuximab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The COMBATAC trial is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, single-stage phase 2 trial. Twenty-six patients with synchronous or metachronous colorectal or appendiceal peritoneal carcinomatosis were included. Enrollment was terminated prematurely by the sponsor because of slow recruitment. Progression-free survival as primary end point and overall survival were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Also evaluated were morbidity according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0 and feasibility of the combined treatment concept.

RESULTS

Median progression-free survival for the intention-to-treat population (n = 25) was 14.9 months. Median overall survival was not reached during the study duration. Ninety-two adverse events were documented in 16 patients, including 14 serious adverse events in 9 patients. The overall morbidity rate was 64%, and the grade 3/4 morbidity rate was 44%. Of all grade 3/4 morbidity events, 36.4% were related to systemic chemotherapy and 22.7% to surgery, whereas 40.9% were not directly related. There was no treatment-related mortality.

CONCLUSION

The results of the COMBATAC trial show that the multimodal treatment concept consisting of perioperative systemic chemotherapy and CRS + HIPEC is safe and feasible. Progression-free survival in selected patients with colorectal or appendiceal peritoneal metastasis might be improved.

Dose-Dependent Effect of Red Blood Cells Transfusion on Perioperative and Long-Term Outcomes in Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Treated with Cytoreduction and HIPEC

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are associated with increased red blood cell transfusion (RBT) demand. Although the deleterious effects of RBT are documented in various settings, its effect in this setting is obscure. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different-grade RBT on the short- and long-term outcomes of CRS and HIPEC.

METHODS

We analyzed 231 patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) and 273 patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) operated in our unit. RBT was categorized according to the amount of packed red blood cell units (PRBCs) administered (0, 1-2, 3-5, > 6). The effects of RBT on long-term oncological outcomes [progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS)] were assessed by using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 74% of the patients were transfused with a median of 2 PRBCs (range 0-37). Transfusion level correlated with operative time, surgical extent (as measured by the peritoneal carcinomatosis index), and age. Postoperatively, patients with major transfusion (> 6 PRBCs) had increased mortality rate (11.1%, p = 0.01) and length of hospital stay (31.2 ± 16.8 days, p = 0.01) compared with other levels of RBT. RBT was dose-dependently associated with oncological outcomes in both DMPM and PMP for both PFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.74, p = 0.003; HR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.15-1.81, p = 0.001, respectively] and OS (HR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.21-2.03, p = 0.001; HR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.15-1.90, p = 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show a dose-dependent relationship between RBT and oncological outcomes. Further research to develop transfusion sparing protocols is needed in this extensive surgical procedure.

A proposal of Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (BSSO/SBCO) for standardizing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedures in Brazil: pseudomixoma peritonei, appendiceal tumors and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Cytoreductive surgery plus hypertermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy has emerged as a major comprehensive treatment of peritoneal malignancies and is currently the standard of care for appendiceal epithelial neoplasms and pseudomyxoma peritonei syndrome as well as malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Unfortunately, there are some worldwide variations of the cytoreductive surgery and hypertermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy techniques since no single technique has so far demonstrated its superiority over the others. Therefore, standardization of practices might enhance better comparisons between outcomes. In these settings, the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology considered it important to present a proposal for standardizing cytoreductive surgery plus hypertermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy procedures in Brazil, with a special focus on producing homogeneous data for the developing Brazilian register for peritoneal surface malignancies.

Multicystic mesothelioma: Operative and long-term outcomes with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intra peritoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (MCPM) is an extremely rare disease with 40-50% rate of recurrence after surgical debulking. Due to the recurrent nature of the disease, the option of cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) was offered for this condition. In the present study we aimed to describe the outcomes of this strategy in a single center cohort.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of all patients with MCPM that underwent the combined procedure in our center. Clinical presentation, operative procedures and outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS

Between August 1997 and October 2017, 19 patients with MCPM underwent 20 cytoreduction and HIPEC procedures in our center. The majority of the patients were females (n = 17, 89%), and mean age was 42, as reported in other series. Disease extent, as measured by mean peritoneal carcinomatosis index (PCI) was 15.5 ± 9.9 and total number of procedures performed 6.7 ± 2.6. Major complications occurred in 3 (15%) patients, with no perioperative mortality. After a median of follow-up of 69 months (range 4-220) all patients were alive and 4 patients had recurrence (21%). Patients with high PCI (defined by median PCI) had shorter recurrence free survival (RFS) than patient with low PCI (mean RFS = 106.4 ± 6.6 for high PCI vs. 125.6 ± 34.1 for low PCI, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Cytoreduction and HIPEC offer low recurrence rate and prolonged mean RFS for patients with MCPM. The combined procedure can be offered with acceptable morbidity in specialized centers.

The Comprehensive Complication Index: a New Measure of the Burden of Complications After Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are complex surgeries with multiple comorbidities. The Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) is the most commonly used method to report surgical morbidity, but limits it to the highest-grade complication. The Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) is a score ranging from 0 to 100, calculated using all 30-day complications and their treatment after abdominal surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the CCI's validity in the HIPEC patient population.

METHODS

A review of our institutional cytoreduction database from 2009 to 2015 was undertaken. Patient demographics, pathology, Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index (PCI), complications and their treatments, and length of stay (LOS) were reviewed. The CCI was calculated for each patient. Linear regression was used to assess whether the CCI and CDC were predictors of LOS.

RESULTS

Of 157 patients reviewed, 110 (70.1%) underwent HIPEC. The majority were female (77, 66.9%), and the mean age was 53.7 years. Mean PCI was 13.2 [interquartile range (IQR) 7-18]. Median CDC was grade 2 (IQR 0-2), and only 9.8% had CDC of grade 4 or higher. Mean CCI was 21.4, while the median was 20.9 (IQR 0-30.8). Mean LOS was 16.2 days, while the median was 11 days (IQR 8-15 days). The CCI strongly correlated with LOS with coefficient of 0.46 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.54, p = 0.000].

CONCLUSIONS

The CCI is an adequate tool to capture all complications and their overall burden in patients having undergone HIPEC. This study shows that the CCI can predict LOS and could be used to quantify and compare the burden of multiple complications.

Open Right Hemicolectomy Is a Safe and Suitable Procedure for Surgical Training: A Comparative Study With 133 Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A right hemicolectomy is a technically demanding procedure and the quality of the operation influences the short- and long-term outcomes. An increasing number of certified centers employ surgeons who are specialized in this procedure. Residency training is obligatory, but trainee surgeons often cannot perform technically demanding procedures because of economical and certification requirements imposed on the center. This study was performed to evaluate the suitability of right hemicolectomy as a training procedure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 2009 and 2013, 133 patients received a right hemicolectomy during cancer treatment. Patient data were analyzed in two cohorts: cohort 1 contained 90 patients who were operated by a resident under supervision, and cohort 2 included 43 patients who were operated by a specialized senior surgeon. Outcome and safety were evaluated by mortality rate, anastomotic leakage, complication rate, and operation time. The resection status and the number of resected lymph nodes were surrogate parameters for oncological quality. Gender, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, body mass index, and general risk factors were compared in both cohorts.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the rate of anastomotic leakage between the two groups (p = 0.799). Oncological criteria were met in both cohorts and the oncological quality was similar between groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in risk factors, operating time, postoperative complications, and mortality between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Oncological open right hemicolectomy is a safe and suitable training procedure for residency training under standardized conditions.

Uncommon indications for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has changed treatment for selected patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) arising from appendiceal, colorectal, epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal and gastric cancers. However, the results of CRS with HIPEC remain unclear in PM from other tumor histologies.

Methods

We report a series of 10 patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC between 2006 and 2015, for PM arising from uncommon tumor origins.

Results

Ten patients with PM from uncommon tumor origins underwent CRS and HIPEC. Median age was 46.5 years. Two patients had ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCT) and two had small bowel adenocarcinomas. The other histologies included: ovarian transitional cell carcinoma, ovarian granulosa cell tumor, endometroid adenocarcinoma, endocervical adenocarcinoma, synovial sarcoma, and ovarian leiomyosarcoma. Median peritoneal cancer index was 9 (2-18) and complete cytoreduction was achieved for all patients. Median follow-up was 14 months (2-100), and median time to recurrence from CRS and HIPEC was 16.0 months by Kaplan-Meier estimate. Four patients remain alive and disease-free, five are alive with disease, and one had died with disease. Median survival was not reached.

Conclusions

Eight of ten patients with peritoneal metastases in the above rare indications survived 10 months or more after CRS and HIPEC. These encouraging results are a rationale for prospective clinical trials in these tumor histologies.

Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion for the treatment of gastric cancer: A single-centre retrospective study

AIM

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) is the treatment regime most likely to achieve prolonged survival in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastroenteric cancer. To date, few publications have focused on the treatment of patients with gastric cancer alone. Several controversies remain unsolved, including the safety and effectiveness of the CRS-HIPEC combination regime, particularly in cases where HIPEC is used as adjuvant treatment after CRS. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CRS combined with HIPEC in patients with gastric cancer.

METHOD

Data from 231 patients with a median age of 55.1 years treated with the CRS-HIPEC combination regime between January 2009 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent the combination therapy (mean of 2.4 cycles per patient, range, 1 to 4 cycles).

RESULTS

Median overall survival was 37.0 months, with 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates recorded as 83.4%, 68.5%, and 38.7%, respectively. The serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) were significantly decreased after combination therapy in the completeness of cytoreduction (CCR)-0 and CCR-1 groups, while no significant changes observed in marker levels were observed in the CC ≥2 group. The post-operative morbidity and mortality rates were 6.9% and 0.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed low TNM tumour stage, ascites condition and CCR score as independent predictors for better survival.

CONCLUSION

In view of the acceptable morbidity and mortality rates we propose that CRS combined with HIPEC presents an effective and safe treatment modality for patients with gastric cancer, especially in cases where optimal cytoreduction is achieved before the HIPEC procedure.

No impact on long-term survival of prolonged ICU stay and re-admission for patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are promising new approaches of peritoneal metastases. However these surgical procedures are associated with a high morbidity rate thus intensive care (IC) management following serious complications may be warranted for these patients. The impact of the prolonged IC stay or re-admission on long-term survival remains unknown.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 122 consecutive HIPEC procedures over a one year period (2010-2011) in a single academic hospital. We analysed complications that would lead to prolonged stay or re-admission into ICU and analysed long term follow-up in patients whether they required intensive care (ICU group) or not (Control group).

RESULTS

ICU group represented 26.2% of the cohort mainly due to septic or haemorrhagic shock. Among them acute kidney injury and respiratory failure were present in 50% and 47% respectively. Cohort overall mortality rate was of 5.7%. Patients were followed for 4 years and survival analysis was performed adjusting for main confounding factors in a Cox survival model. Survival was not different between groups, with a median survival of 38 months [32; 44] vs. 33 months [26; 39] in the ICU group and Control group respectively.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged stay or re-admission into ICU does not seem to statistically impact long term prognosis of patients undergoing CRS with HIPEC.

Does early post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC) for patients treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) make a difference?

INTRODUCTION

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is increasingly being treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), with or without early post-operative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC). We compared the morbidities, overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) between two groups of patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC alone and with EPIC at our institution.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 111 patients with PC who were treated with CRS + HIPEC or CRS + HIPEC + EPIC in a single institution between January 2008 and April 2014 was performed. EPIC with 5-fluorouracil or paclitaxel was utilised, depending on the primary tumour.

RESULTS

Patients who received EPIC had a higher proportion of grade III and above post- operative complications (58% versus 25%; p = 0.048) and a longer duration of hospitalisation (16 days versus 13 days; p = 0.019) than patients without EPIC. There were no significant OS and DFS differences between the EPIC and no EPIC groups (log-rank p = 0.231 and p = 0.144, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The use of EPIC after CRS + HIPEC for PC potentially results in increased morbidity and longer hospitalisation, and is unlikely to affect survival outcomes. Based on our experience, EPIC is not recommended after CRS and HIPEC.

BEV-IP: Perioperative chemotherapy with bevacizumab in patients undergoing cytoreduction and intraperitoneal chemoperfusion for colorectal carcinomatosis

Background

Selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer (CRC) benefit from cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (IPC). However, even after optimal cytoreduction, systemic and locoregional recurrence are common. Perioperative chemotherapy with bevacizumab (BEV) may improve the outcome of these patients.

Methods/Design

The BEV-IP study is a phase II, single-arm, open-label study aimed at patients with colorectal or appendiceal adenocarcinoma with synchronous or metachronous PC. This study evaluates whether perioperative chemotherapy including BEV in combination with CRS and oxaliplatin-based IPC results in acceptable morbidity and mortality (primary composite endpoint). Secondary endpoints are treatment completion rate, chemotherapy-related toxicity, pathological response, progression free survival, and overall survival.

Discussion

The BEV-IP trial is the first prospective assessment of the safety and efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy combined with anti-angiogenic treatment in patients undergoing CRS and IPC for colorectal peritoneal metastases.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02399410 EudraCT number: 2015-001187-19 (registered March 9, 2015).

The Role of Ki-67 and Pre-cytoreduction Parameters in Selecting Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma (DMPM) Patients for Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

BACKGROUND

We conducted a prognostic analysis of preoperative parameters and Ki-67 determination to develop selection criteria for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC in patients with diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM).

METHODS

DMPM patients treated with CRS and HIPEC at NCI of Milan participated in this study. Multivariate analysis was conducted using Cox proportional hazard model and conditional inference tree method to select independent predictors of overall survival (OS) from the followings pre-cytoreduction parameters: age, sex, ECOG performance status, Charlson comorbidity index, previous systemic chemotherapy, CA-125, histological subtype (epithelioid vs. biphasic/sarcomatoid), Ki-67 (determined with immunohistochemistry), and peritoneal cancer index (PCI).

RESULTS

A total of 117 patients (male/female: 67/50) with median age of 60.5 (range 22-75) years were included. Eighty-three patients had ECOG performance status = 0, median Charlson comorbidity index was 4 (range 2-9), and 102 cases had epithelioid subtype. Median Ki-67 was 5 % (range 1-60). Ninety-four (80.3 %) cases were optimally cytoreduced. The Cox analysis identified Ki-67, PCI, and histological subtype as independent prognosticators of OS. Conditional inference tree method identified three prognostic subsets: (I) Ki-67 ≤ 9 %; (II) Ki-67 > 9 % and PCI ≤ 17; and (III) Ki-67 > 9 % and PCI > 17. The median OS for subsets I, II, and III were, 86.6, 63.2, and 10.3 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Ki-67 is a powerful prognosticator that allows, along with PCI, and histological subtype, a good prediction of OS in patients with DMPM. Patients with Ki-67 > 9 % and PCI > 17 are unlikely to benefit from the procedure and should be considered for other treatment protocols.

Implementation of a standardized HIPEC protocol improves outcome for peritoneal malignancy

BACKGROUND

Experience with Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in a pioneer hospital resulted in a treatment protocol that has become the standard in the Netherlands. Outcome of CRS and HIPEC was reviewed to assure differences between the pioneer phase and the period wherein the Dutch HIPEC protocol was clinically implemented.

METHODS

The first consecutive 100 CRS and HIPEC procedures performed in the Netherlands were included as pioneer cohort (1995-1999). Two-hundred and seventy-two procedures that were performed in three participating HIPEC centres after the implementation of the Dutch HIPEC protocol were included as the implementation cohort (2005-2012). Another 100 recent patients of the first centre were included as a control group (2009-2011). Indications for the CRS and HIPEC treatment were peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal carcinoma and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).

RESULTS

Of the 472 included procedures, 327 (69 %) procedures were performed for PC from colorectal carcinoma and 145 for PMP (31 %). Compared with the implementation phase, the pioneer phase was characterized by more affected abdominal regions (mean 4.3 vs. 3.5, p < 0.001), more resections (mean 3.8 vs. 3.4, p < 0.001), less macroscopic radical cytoreductions (66 vs. 86 %, p < 0.001) and more patients with major morbidity (grade III-V) (64 vs. 32 %, p < 0.001). Other determinants of morbidity were high tumour load and multiple organ resections. Outcome of the implementation phase was similar to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study determined that outcome had improved ever since the Dutch HIPEC protocol has been implemented based on completeness of cytoreduction and decreasing morbidity.

Cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: The learning curve reassessed

BACKGROUND

CytoReductive Surgery and Hyperthermic IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is now the preferred treatment of many peritoneal surface malignancies. In this retrospective study we aimed to analyze how several performance indicators changed during the first 100 CRS-HIPEC procedures in hospitals which recently introduced this treatment, and compare those with an experienced institution.

METHODS

The first consecutive 100 CRS-HIPEC procedures of three institutions were compared to those of the pioneer hospital. The training provided by the pioneer hospital consisted of hands-on training during the first ten procedures; hereafter guidance was available on consult basis. Operation characteristics, morbidity and completeness of cytoreduction were evaluated by case sequence. Locally-estimated-scatter-plot smoothing was used to evaluate the learning curve.

RESULTS

From four institutions 372 cases were included. A macroscopic complete cytoreduction was reached in 66% of the cases in the pioneer hospital and in 86% in the new hospitals (p < 0.001). Complete cytoreduction rates were higher at start off in the new institutions compared with the experienced institution and increased significantly in the first 100 procedures. The new hospitals started with lower morbidity than the experienced hospital, which did not significantly decrease during the study period.

CONCLUSION

New institutions that were trained and mentored by an experienced CRS-HIPEC hospital performed better from the beginning with regard to complete cytoreduction and morbidity rate with than the experienced center. An improvement in complete cytoreduction rate during the first 100 procedures was observed in the new institutions.

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Minichromosome Maintenance Protein 7 (MCM7), Topoisomerase IIα, and Ki-67 in Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients Using Tissue Microarray

PURPOSE

Immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray (TMA) were used to perform a prognostic analysis of markers related to cell proliferation in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM).

METHODS

Clinicopathologic data were extracted from a prospectively collected database containing cases of peritoneal mesothelioma treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the National Cancer Institute of Milan from 1995 to 2013. Eighty-one DMPM patients were recruited and their tissue samples were used to construct TMAs. We evaluated the immunoexpressions of markers related to cell proliferation-topoisomerase IIα, minichromosome maintenance protein 7 (MCM7), and Ki-67-and then conducted a multivariate Cox model to identify the predictors of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) among the following parameters: age, sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, baseline serum albumin, Charlson Comorbidity Index, previous systemic chemotherapy, histological subtype (epithelioid vs. biphasic/sarcomatoid), peritoneal cancer index, completeness of cytoreduction (CC), and proliferative biological markers.

RESULTS

The rates of high/intermediate immunoreactivity were 95 % for topoisomerase IIα and 90 % for MCM7, and the median Ki-67 labeling index was 5 %. The independent predictors of OS were baseline serum albumin >3.5 g/dl, CC, and Ki-67 >5 %, whereas those for PFS were an ECOG performance status of 0, baseline serum albumin >3.5 g/dl, Charlson Comorbidity Index >3, previous systemic chemotherapy, morbidity G3-5, and Ki-67 >5 %. The remaining biological markers were not associated with outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Ki-67 was found to be a new powerful determinant of outcome. Patients with a Ki-67 labeling index >5 % carry a very poor prognosis and do not benefit from the combined procedure. Further studies should be conducted to confirm the present data.

Hemodynamic Monitoring During Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Using the FloTrac/Vigileo System

Cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC has provided a chance for long-term survival in selected patients. However, perioperative management remains a challenge for the anesthesiology team. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in hemodynamic parameters during hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) using the FloTrac/Vigileo system. Forty-one consecutive patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC were enrolled. Heart rate (HR), esophageal temperature, and cardiac output (CO) steadily increased until the end of HIPEC. In the first half of HIPEC, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and central venous pressure (CVP) increased whereas systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreased; SVR stabilized in the second half. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and stroke volume (SV) showed no significant variation. Male gender was related to increased CVP, CO, and SV, and decreased SVR; age >55 years was related to increased SBP, and peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was correlated with HR, DBP, and SV. PCI >14 was associated with increased HR and decreased DBP and MAP. American Society of Anesthesiologists score >1 was related to decreased CO and SV. Patients undergoing HIPEC develop a hyperdynamic circulatory state because of the increased temperature, characterized by a steady decrease in SVR and continuous increase in HR and CO. FloTrac/Vigileo system may provide an easy-to-handle, noninvasive monitoring tool.

Multicentre study of the learning curve and surgical performance of cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy for pseudomyxoma peritonei

Background

The learning curves for cytoreductive surgery with intraperitoneal chemotherapy for treatment of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) were explored between international centres/surgeons to identify institutional or other factors that might affect performance.

Methods

Data from patients with PMP treated with the combined procedure across 33 international centres between 1993 and 2012 were analysed retrospectively. A risk-adjusted sequential probability ratio test was conducted after defining the target outcome as early oncological failure (disease progression within 2 years of treatment), an acceptable risk for the target outcome (odds ratio) of 2, and type I/II error rates of 5 per cent. The risk prediction model was elaborated and patients were evaluated sequentially for each centre/surgeon. The learning curve was considered to be overcome and proficiency achieved when the odds ratio for early oncological failure became smaller than 2.

Results

Rates of optimal cytoreduction, severe postoperative morbidity and early oncological failure were 84·4, 25·7 and 29·0 per cent respectively. The median annual centre volume was 17 (range 6–66) peritoneal malignancies. Only eight of the 33 centres and six of 47 surgeons achieved proficiency after a median of 100 (range 78–284) and 96 (86–284) procedures respectively. The most important institutional factor affecting surgical performance was centre volume.

Conclusion

The learning curve is extremely long, so centralization and/or networking of centres is necessary to assure quality of services. One centre for every 10–15 million inhabitants would be ideal.

Quality of life after cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal surface malignancies: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) accompanied by Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a promising technique in the treatment of peritoneal metastatic disease. The complexity and the potential adverse effects of the procedure can significantly affect patients' Quality of Life (QoL). Few studies have assessed the impact of CRS + HIPEC in patients' QoL using structured and validated tools. This is a systematic review of the currently available published data, investigating the QoL after performing CRS + HIPEC for tumours of varying primary origin.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the studies indexed in PubMed database until July 2014, using as key phrase "quality of life" and "intraperitoneal chemotherapy", including studies using only validated questionnaires for assessing quality of life parameters.

RESULTS

20 studies were identified that matched the criteria set. The results of these studies, although of significant heterogeneity, clearly demonstrate that although overall QoL scores drop in the immediate postoperative period, at an average of 3 months post procedure they recover to 80%-100% or even exceed baseline values. Furthermore, between 6 and 12 months postoperatively, overall QoL is improved in survivors compared to pre-operative status.

CONCLUSIONS

CRS and HIPEC is feasible as a treatment modality in selected patients with peritoneal metastatic disease and can preserve or even improve patients' overall quality of life.

Colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: the experience of a tertiary Asian center

INTRODUCTION

Compared with intravenous chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been shown to improve survival in patients with recurrent colorectal disease confined to the peritoneum. We report our experience with CRS and HIPEC for colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, evaluating prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and perioperative morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

All patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC were included in our study. Clinical characteristics, operative data, and 30-day morbidity and mortality were collected and evaluated.

RESULTS

Between January 2001 and December 2012, there were 35 consecutive patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC at our institution. Thirty-three patients (94%) had optimal cytoreduction. No 30-day mortality was reported, but 14 patients had postoperative complications. The median DFS was 9.4 months (95% confidence interval 5.5-18.7 months), and DFS at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years were 43.8%, 22.3%, and 22.3%, respectively. The median OS was calculated to be 27.1 months (95% confidence interval 15.3-39.1), and the OS at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years were 83.7%, 38.2%, and 19.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

CRS and HIPEC can provide survival benefit, with reasonable morbidity and mortality for Asian patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer. Patient selection and perioperative management of the patients are key to the success of the procedure.

Intensive care unit admission after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Is it necessary?

Introduction. Cytoreductive surgery (CS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a new approach for peritoneal carcinomatosis. However, high rates of complications are associated with CS and HIPEC due to treatment complexity; that is why some patients need stabilization and surveillance for complications in the intensive care unit. Objective. This study analyzed that ICU stay is necessary after HIPEC. Methods. 39 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis were treated according to strict selection criteria with CS and HIPEC, with closed technique, and the chemotherapy administered were cisplatin 25 mg/m(2)/L and mitomycin C 3.3 mg/m(2)/L for 90-minutes at 40.5°C. Results. 26 (67%) of the 39 patients were transferred to the ICU. Major postoperative complications were seen in 14/26 patients (53%). The mean time on surgical procedures was 7.06 hours (range 5-9 hours). The mean blood loss was 939 ml (range 100-3700 ml). The mean time stay in the ICU was 2.7 days. Conclusion. CS with HIPEC for the treatment of PC results in low mortality and high morbidity. Therefore, ICU stay directly following HIPEC should not be standardized, but should preferably be based on the extent or resections performed and individual patient characteristics and risk factors. Late complications were comparable to those reported after large abdominal surgery without HIPEC.

Perioperative systemic chemotherapy in peritoneal carcinomatosis of lymph node positive colorectal cancer treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) is the preferred treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) of colorectal carcinoma. Patients with positive lymph node status have worse survival after CRS-HIPEC, which is probably due to higher rates of systemic failure. In this study, we analysed the effect of administration and timing of systemic chemotherapy on the outcome of lymph node positive colorectal carcinoma patients treated with CRS-HIPEC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective database was reviewed to identify lymph node positive patients with PC treated with CRS-HIPEC within 1 year after primary tumour diagnosis between 2004 and 2012. Medical history of the patients was studied for the administration of perioperative systemic chemotherapy and follow-up. Outcome parameters were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and pattern of recurrence.

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients treated with CRS-HIPEC for PC from lymph node positive colorectal carcinoma were identified. Fourteen patients received pre-CRS-HIPEC chemotherapy only, 32 patients underwent post-CRS-HIPEC chemotherapy only, 9 patients received chemotherapy both pre- and post-CRS-HIPEC and 16 patients did not receive any systemic chemotherapy. Of the 47 patients who did not receive pre-CRS-HIPEC chemotherapy, 11 (23%) did not receive any chemotherapy due to major postoperative complications. PFS and OS were significantly higher in patients who received systemic chemotherapy (PFS: median 15 versus 4 months, P = 0.024; OS: median 30 versus 14 months, P = 0.015), although this difference was attenuated after adjustment for major complications. Different chemotherapy timings did not differ significantly in either survival or recurrence patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with PC from lymph node positive colorectal carcinoma, perioperative systemic chemotherapy is associated with increased OS and PFS, although this difference may be partly explained by the occurrence of major postoperative complication; with no evidence of difference in PFS, OS and systemic recurrence rate by timing of systemic chemotherapy.

Outcome of patients with aggressive pseudomyxoma peritonei treated by cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare disease with an incidence rate of approximately 1 per million a year. During the past few years, there has been a survival benefit for these patients treated by complete cytoreduction and perioperative chemotherapy. Better survival rates were found in the adenomucinosis group than the carcinomatosis group. The purpose of our study was to analyze the outcome and the prognosis factors of only high-grade PMP.

METHODS

We selected 38 patients from a prospective database of 59 with high-grade PMP from appendiceal origin who were treated by cytoreduction surgery and HIPEC at the Hospital University Reina Sofia (Cordoba, Spain) between 1998 and July 2012. Clinical, surgical, analytical, radiological, and histological data were obtained prospectively. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, a univariate analysis was performed and the log rank-test was used to analyze the effects of several clinical and pathologic factors on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Median follow-up time was 32 months (range, 2-170). Median age at diagnosis was 57 years (range, 32-77). In 89.5 % of patients, optimal cytoreduction CC-0 (57.9 %) and CC-1 (31.6 %) was achieved. In the remaining 10.5 %, cytoreduction was classified as CC-2. The median PCI score was 21 (range, 4-38). Morbidity complications ≥ Grade 3 in the CTCAE v 3.0 classification was 18.4 %. One patient died 45 days postsurgery. Median OS at the end of follow-up was 36 months (range, 9-83); overall 5-year survival rate was 58.7 %. In the univariate analysis for OS, significant values were obtained for lymph-node involvement and suboptimal cytoreduction. The 5-year OS was 64.5 % when an optimal cytoreduction was achieved. Median DFS was 36 months (17-54); 3-year DFS rate was 49.1 %. Neoadjuvant therapy did not affect the survival of these patients; there was no difference in the 5-year OS (43 % vs. 75 %, p = 0.068).

CONCLUSIONS

In aggressive PMP, cytoreduction with peritonectomy procedure plus HIPEC is a safe procedure that suggests an improvement to the survival rates. Because optimal cytoreduction is a primary prognostic factor for survival rates, this procedure would have to be performed in an experienced center with a low morbidity. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not demonstrated benefits in these patients and further research will be required.

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the benefit of cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of endometrial peritoneal carcinomatosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were collected prospectively for 13 patients treated in our University hospital.

RESULTS

Of the thirteen patients treated, one patient was lost to follow up. Three patients died within the first twelve months of treatment, and two patients died at respectively 12.4 and 19.4 months after the HIPEC procedure. Seven patients are alive, four of them without recurrence, between 1.5 and 124.8 months after surgery. The Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and the Completeness of Cytoreduction-Score (CC-S) are prognostic factors for survival after HIPEC treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis of endometrial origin.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant survival time in selected patients should lead to a study of the management of peritoneal carcinomatosis of endometrial origin in a larger number of cases, and justifies a clinical trial on a larger scale.

Postoperative infections after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for peritoneal carcinomatosis: proposal and results from a prospective protocol study of prevention, surveillance and treatment

The incidence of infectious complications due to several contributory causes is particularly elevated and life-threatening in patients undergoing peritonectomy and HIPEC procedure for peritoneal carcinomatosis. Following a previous experience, we started a prospective protocol study of preoperative screening, perioperative prophylaxis and postoperative surveillance and treatment. A total of 111 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of various origin underwent CRS with HIPEC between April 2004 and December 2012. The group was divided into a pilot group of 30 patients (04/04 to 05/08) and a main group of 81 patients (06/08 to 12/12). Overall postoperative morbidity rate was 44%, with 35.8% of symptomatic infections. No post-operative mortality was observed. Microorganisms were isolated in 24 patients (80.0%) in the first group and 54 (66.7%) in the second. They were symptomatic in 18 cases (75.0%) and 25 (46.3%) cases respectively. In addition, 7 invasive candidosis were recorded (25.9%). Colon resection (P = 0.01) and duration of surgery (P = 0.0008) were associated with infection at logistic regression model. Concerning symptomatic infections, only Infection Risk Index (P = 0.009) showed significance at multivariate analysis. Despite a significant incidence of infectious complications, establishment of a prevention, surveillance and treatment protocol lead to a zero mortality rate in the observed patients of our experience. Owing to the obtained results, we suggest the use of a standardized protocol for the prevention, monitoring and treatment in all patients enrolled for cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.

Cytoreduction and HIPEC in the Netherlands: nationwide long-term outcome following the Dutch protocol

PURPOSE

This nationwide study evaluated results of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal metastasis of colorectal origin in the Netherlands following a national protocol.

METHODS

In a multi-institutional study prospective databases of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from colorectal cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) treated according to the Dutch HIPEC protocol, a uniform approach for the CRS and HIPEC treatment, were reviewed. Primary end point was overall survival and secondary end points were surgical outcome and progression-free survival.

RESULTS

Nine-hundred sixty patients were included; 660 patients (69 %) were affected by PC of colorectal carcinoma and the remaining suffered from PMP (31 %). In 767 procedures (80 %), macroscopic complete cytoreduction was achieved. Three-hundred and thirty one patients had grade III-V complications (34 %). Thirty-two patients died perioperatively (3 %). Median length of hospital stay was 16 days (range 0-166 days). Median follow-up period was 41 months (95 % confidence interval (CI), 36-46 months). Median progression-free survival was 15 months (95 % CI 13-17 months) for CRC patients and 53 months (95 % CI 40-66 months) for PMP patients. Overall median survival was 33 (95 % CI 28-38 months) months for CRC patients and 130 months (95 % CI 98-162 months) for PMP patients. Three- and five-year survival rates were 46 and 31 % respectively in case of CRC patients and 77 and 65 % respectively in case of PMP patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The results underline the safety and efficacy of cytoreduction and HIPEC for PC from CRC and PMP. It is assumed the uniform Dutch HIPEC protocol was beneficial.

Circulating tumor markers: predictors of incomplete cytoreduction and powerful determinants of outcome in pseudomyxoma peritonei

BACKGROUND

Incomplete cytoreduction (IC) is one of the main prognostic factor in pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). We evaluated the ability of preoperative Ca125, CEA, and Ca19-9 to predict IC and prognosis in PMP.

METHODS

One hundred fifty-six cases elected candidate to cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy from 1996 to 2011 were included in the study. We assessed the: (1) optimal cut-off values for circulating Tumor markers (CTM) in predicting IC (residual disease >2.5 mm) using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC); (2) discriminant power of CTM and risk prediction models for IC by calculating the area under ROC curve (AUC-ROC); (3) prognostic factors using Cox proportional-hazard model.

RESULTS

Optimal cut-offs were 125 U/ml for Ca125, 18 ng/ml for CEA, and 89 U/ml for Ca19-9. The AUCs-ROC were 0.76, 0.68, and 0.69 for Ca125, CEA, and Ca19-9, respectively. The addition of CTM to risk prediction model that considered preoperative clinicopathological factors increased marginally the AUC-ROC (0.80-0.84). Ca125 > 125 U/ml, Ca19-9 > 89 U/ml independently affected overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative CTMs were reasonable but not perfect discriminators of IC. Moreover, Ca125 and Ca19-9, using new cut-off values, were proven to be new strong prognostic factors that overcome the value of disease extension and histological subtype.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in Asian patients: 100 consecutive patients in a single institution

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been shown to improve survival in selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. We review our institutional experience with the procedure and evaluate the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates in 100 consecutive patients.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected from 100 consecutive patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis treated by CRS and HIPEC at the National Cancer Centre Singapore between April 2001 and May 2012. Our primary end points were OS and DFS.

RESULTS

Of the 100 patients, 84 were of Chinese ethnicity, 3 were Malay, 6 were Indian, and 7 were of other ethnicities. Primary tumors were ovarian cancer (n=39), colorectal cancer (n=28), primary peritoneal (n=6), appendiceal cancer (n=20), and mesothelioma (n=7). Median follow-up duration was 21 months. At 5 years, the DFS was 26.3% and OS was 50.9%. Factors influencing OS and DFS were cytoreductive score, primary cancer, and disease-free interval of more than 12 months on univariate analysis. The only factors that remained significant for prognosis after multivariate analysis were primary cancer and cytoreductive score. Thirty-day morbidity was 56%, and there were no 30-day mortalities.

CONCLUSIONS

CRS and HIPEC can be safely carried out in Asian patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian, colorectal, appendiceal, mesothelioma, and primary peritoneal origins. Overall, the ovarian, appendiceal, mesothelioma, and primary peritoneal cancer patients tended to do better than the colorectal patients, but careful patient selection ensuring that optimal cytoreduction can be achieved is essential for the success of this procedure.

The role of perioperative systemic chemotherapy in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of perioperative systemic chemotherapy (CT) on short-term surgical and long-term oncologic results in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) patients treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data obtained from an institutional prospective database at NCI of Milan. The study group comprised 116 DMPM patients treated with CRS + HIPEC from August 1995 to October 2011. A total of 60 cases underwent preoperative CT (PRECT), 30 underwent postoperative CT (POSTCT), and 26 did not undergo any CT (NOCT). Also, 55 cases used the perioperative combination of platinum and pemetrexed. We tested whether covariates related to clinical, histologic, PRECT, and surgical treatment were correlated with completeness of cytoreduction (CC), postoperative G3-5 morbidity, and progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Factors independently associated with CC were ECOG performance status (PF) of 0, and PCI <20. Factors independently associated with postoperative G3-5 morbidity were ECOG >1, bowel anastomosis, and number of peritonectomy procedures. Preoperative platelet count >400 × 103/mm(3), histological subtype (biphasic and sarcomatoid vs epithelial), CC, and G3-5 morbidity were independent prognostic factors. PRECT was not associated with CC or G3-5 morbidity. There was no significant difference in terms of survival between the PRECT, POSTCT, and NOCT groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The CC, G3-5, and OS were not influenced by aspects related to perioperative CT. The present data warrants confirmation reconducting the comparative analysis in a larger multi-institutional series preferably using matching control techniques.

Complications and toxicities after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the perioperative complications, toxicity, mortality rates after cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and effects of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) used in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies.

METHODS

Between September 2007 and March 2012, we performed 118 CRS and HIPEC with the closed abdominal technique on 115 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Systemic toxicities were graded according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0 criteria and were analyzed from a prospectively collected database.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 53.4 (range, 20-82) years; 76.3 % were female. PC was synchronous to primary cancer in 53.4 % of patients, metachronous in 41.5 %, and recurrent in 5.1 % of the patients. PCI was ≥15 in 53.4 % of the patients, and CC-0 cytoreduction was achieved in 68.5 % of the patients. Perioperative mortality was observed in 9 (7.6 %) patients. A total of 98 complications were observed in 46 (39.0 %) patients, and 4 patients underwent 6 reoperations for perioperative surgical complications. We observed toxicity in 25.4 % of the patients, nephrotoxicity in 18.6 %, and hematological toxicity in 13.6 % of patients. No significant difference was observed among age, gender, PCI and CC scores, origin of the primary tumor, and occurrence of toxicity and surgical complications. Prolonged operation times resulted in higher complication and/or toxicity rates (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC is a combined treatment strategy for peritoneal surface malignancies with acceptable complication and toxicity rates.

A prospective multicenter phase II study evaluating multimodality treatment of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis arising from appendiceal and colorectal cancer: the COMBATAC trial

Background

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is regarded as a common sign of advanced tumor stage, tumor progression or local recurrence of appendiceal and colorectal cancer and is generally associated with poor prognosis. Although survival of patients with advanced stage CRC has markedly improved over the last 20 years with systemic treatment, comprising combination chemotherapy +/− monoclonal antibodies, the oncological outcome—especially of the subgroup of patients with peritoneal metastases—is still unsatisfactory. In addition to systemic therapy, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are specific treatment options for a selected group of these patients and may provide an additional therapeutic benefit in the framework of an interdisciplinary treatment concept.

Methods/design

The COMBATAC trial is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-arm, single-stage phase II trial investigating perioperative systemic polychemotherapy including cetuximab in combination with CRS and HIPEC patients with histologically proven wild-type KRAS colorectal or appendiceal adenocarcinoma and synchronous or metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis. The planned total number of patients to be recruited is 60. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), perioperative morbidity and treatment-associated toxicity, feasibility of the combined treatment regimen, quality of life (QoL) and histopathological regression after preoperative chemotherapy.

Discussion

The COMBATAC trial is designed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the combined multidisciplinary treatment regimen consisting of perioperative systemic combination chemotherapy plus cetuximab and CRS plus bidirectional HIPEC with intraperitoneal oxaliplatin.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01540344, EudraCT number: 2009-014040-11

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion for extremity soft tissue sarcomas: systematic review of clinical efficacy and quality assessment of reported trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are managed with radiotherapy and limb-sparing surgery however aggressive or recurrent cases require amputation. Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) has been proposed as an alternative. Our aim was to systematically review phase II HILP trials, assess tumor response, limb salvage (LS), and quality of scientific publications on this technique.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library) and clinical trial registries for phase II HILP trials on non-resectable extremity STS. Outcomes of interest were complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and LS rates. Quality of published trials was assessed using a quality checklist.

RESULTS

Of 518 patients across 12 studies, 408 had some response (CR or PR), and 428 had the limb spared. Median CR, PR, and LS rates were 31%, 53.5%, and 82.5%, respectively. Median Wieberdink loco-regional toxicity rates were 3.8%, 45.5%, 17%, 1%, and 0% for levels 1-5, respectively. No trial fulfilled either all ideal or essential quality criteria. Seven trials did not include statistical methodology.

CONCLUSION

HILP seems effective in treating advanced extremity STS. However, poor publication quality hinders results validity. Technical and methodological standardization, well-designed, multi-institutional trials are warranted.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion: The University of Arizona early experience

AIM: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of our new cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) program.

METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies who were suitable candidates for CRS and HIPEC between 12/1/2009 and 10/1/2010. All clinicopathologic data were reviewed with a special focus on the surgical outcome and the postoperative morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS: Fourteen patients were identified. Median age was 64 years; seven were female. The primary tumors were: colonic (29%), appendiceal (36%), peritoneal mesothelioma (14%), gastric (7%), adenocarcinoma of unknown primary (7%), and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (7%). Eleven patients (79%) received CRS/HIPEC, three for palliation. Three patients that did not undergo CRS/HIPEC had an average peritoneal cancer index (PCI) of 25. The eight patients that underwent curative CRS/HIPEC had an average PCI of 10 and a completeness of cytoreduction score of 0 (87.5%) or 1 (12.5%). Postoperative morbidity was 36%; the worst adverse event was Grade 3 ileus. Mortality rate was 0%.

CONCLUSION: CRS with HIPEC is safe and feasible at tertiary institutions with fledgling programs. PCI is an accurate predictor of surgical outcomes.

Multidimensional analysis of the learning curve for cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in peritoneal surface malignancies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the learning curve of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in treating peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM).

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND

CRS and HIPEC to treat PSM is a complex procedure with a significant morbidity. A long-lasting training program is required to acquire expertise in this type of operation.

METHODS

We performed CRS using peritonectomy procedures. HIPEC through the closed abdomen technique employed cisplatin and mitomycin-C or cisplatin and doxorubicin. Risk-adjusted sequential probability ratio test was used to assess the learning curve on a series of 420 cases of PSM on the basis of rates of incomplete cytoreduction and G3-5 morbidity (NCI-CTCAE v3). We determined control limits setting the type I/II error rates and unacceptable odds ratios (ORs) for the outcomes being studied. We performed the risk adjustment using logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Rates of incomplete cytoreduction, G3-5 morbidity, and postoperative mortality rates were 10.2%, 28.5%, and 2.1%, respectively. The risk-adjusted sequential probability ratio test curve crossed the lower control limit at the 137 th and 149 th case, respectively, for incomplete cytoreduction and G3-5 morbidity. At those points, the actual ORs are lower than the prespecified ORs for outcomes being studied. Therefore, we estimated that approximately 140 cases are necessary to ensure surgical proficiency in CRS and HIPEC.

CONCLUSIONS

CRS and HIPEC to treat PSM has a steep learning curve requiring 140 procedures to acquire expertise.