Comprehensive study of ovarian metastases in young women with peritoneal pseudomyxoma: Is a preservation of fertility possible?

Perioperative outcomes of cytoreductive surgery for tumours of colorectal or appendiceal origin with ovarian involvement

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Ovarian metastases (OM) are a common site for metastases in gastrointestinal tumours with peritoneal disease. This study aimed to evaluate perioperative complications between patients with and without OM following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for appendiceal/colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Female patients undergoing CRS ± HIPEC for appendiceal/colorectal tumours at a single centre from 2009 to 2020 were analysed. Patients were grouped according to presence or absence of OM at the time of CRS.

RESULTS

The study included 318 patients, 72 (22.6%) had OM. Operation duration was longer for patients with OM (332 vs. 276 min, p < 0.0001). Patients with OM achieved higher rates of complete cytoreduction (93% vs. 79%, p = 0.006) despite a higher peritoneal carcinomatosis index (13 vs. 7, p < 0.001) and were more likely to require a blood transfusion (32% vs. 19%, p = 0.024) and a stoma (24% vs.10%, p = 0.005). Increasing age and presence of abdominal symptoms were independent predictors of major and all-cause morbidity, respectively. The presence of abdominal symptoms was independently associated with all-cause morbidity in the OM group.

CONCLUSION

These results may assist with preoperative counselling. Prospective multicentre datasets are needed to evaluate morbidity in one- versus two-stage approaches for those with abdominal symptoms and OM.

Prognosis for Young Females with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei of Appendiceal Origin and Unilateral or Bilateral Ovaries Preserved During Cytoreductive Surgery

Objective

To determine prognosis for young female patients with peritoneal pseudomyxoma (PMP) of appendiceal origin and unilateral or bilateral ovaries preserved during cytoreductive surgery (CRS).

Methods

Clinical data of female patients treated with CRS with or without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) at the Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing between January, 2009 and December, 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients had no changes in the bilateral ovaries on gross pathological observations or biopsy during CRS, and normal ovarian function. The demographic and clinical characteristics and prognosis of women with ovaries preserved (ovarian preservation group) or resected (ovarian resection group) during CRS were compared. Independent prognostic factors for survival were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

40 patients were included in the final analysis. 19 patients chose ovarian preservation while 21 patients underwent ovarian resection. Completeness of cytoreduction (CCR) scores were CCR-0/1. There were significant differences in age (<40 vs. ≥40), symptoms, intraoperative HIPEC (Y vs. N), and histopathologic subtype of PMP (low-grade vs. high-grade) (p < 0.001) between patients in the ovarian preservation and ovarian resection groups. In the ovarian preservation group, median overall survival (OS) was 59 months (range, 53–65 months), and the 5-year survival rate was 37.9%. Median disease-free survival (DFS) was 13 months (range, 9–17 months), and the 5-year recurrence rate was 87.4%. In the ovarian resection group, the 5-year survival rate was 87.7%, and the 5-year recurrence rate was 18.3%. Median OS and median DFS were not reached. In patients with low-grade PMP, median DFS was significantly longer in patients with ovarian resection compared to ovarian preservation (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed histopathologic subtype of PMP (low-grade vs. high-grade, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with OS and DFS. On multivariate analysis, high-grade histopathologic subtype of PMP was an independent predictor of poor prognosis (OS and DFS).

Conclusion

Histopathologic subtype of PMP represents an independent predictor of prognosis in female patients with PMP of appendiceal origin and unilateral or bilateral ovaries preserved during CRS. These findings imply that ovarian preservation is a more suitable option for young females with low-grade PMP compared to high-grade PMP. Further prospective studies should be done investigating the role of resection of uninvolved ovaries in PMP.

The incidence and prognostic importance of ovarian involvement in patients with peritoneal metastasis undergoing CRS-HIPEC

BACKGROUND

Oophorectomy is a common procedure in women with peritoneal metastasis (PM) undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which has unique consequences on hormonal balance and fertility before menopause. The objective of this study was to analyze histopathological results and the prognostic influence of ovarian involvement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective HIPEC database was used to identify 442 patients with PM from colorectal cancer, pseudomyxoma peritonei and appendix cancer scheduled for CRS-HIPEC between 2012 and 2019 at the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

In all, 103 of 180 females underwent oophorectomy. Unilateral oophorectomy was performed in 19% (n = 20) and bilateral oophorectomy in 81% (n = 83). The median age was 61 (range 20-80). Benign ovarian histopathology was seen in 23% (n = 24). Of these, two patients were ≤35 years and 8 patients ≤50 years. The median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 16 in women undergoing oophorectomy, and 7 in those with no oophorectomy. Bilateral oophorectomy was associated with negative impact on overall survival (HR 4.84; 95% CI; 1.14-20.61). Malignant ovarian histopathology was also associated with a negative impact on overall survival (p = 0.043).

CONCLUSION

Almost a quarter of the patients had benign histopathology after oophorectomy. This is crucial information for females with childbearing potential when planning for extensive surgery. Extensive pelvic peritoneal cancer growth resulted more often in bilateral oophorectomy which influenced survival negatively.

Study of oxaliplatin penetration into ovaries of patients treated with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal metastases of colorectal and appendiceal origin using mass spectrometry imaging

Objectives

Platinum salts are commonly used in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for digestive tract cancer treatment. During HIPEC with oxaliplatin for peritoneal metastases (PMs) treatment, the ovaries are directly exposed to the drug, questioning about ovarian resection and the potential impact of the drug on ovarian functionality, especially in young women of childbearing age. The goal of this work is to understand unwanted damages to the ovaries during HIPEC therapy by the determination of the concentration and distribution of platinum in ovaries in order to address its potential toxicity.

Methods

Mass spectrometry imaging techniques, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP MS), were used to study the penetration of oxaliplatin in ovaries after HIPEC treatment.

Results

MALDI-MS allowed the localization of an oxaliplatin-derivative (m/z 456.2) at the periphery of the ovaries. The quantitative LA-ICP MS maps confirmed the localization of elemental platinum as well as in the central part of ovaries from patients who received a previous platinum salt-based chemotherapy.

Conclusions

LA-ICP MS images showed that platinum diffusion was extended in cases of previous systemic treatment, questioning about platinum derivatives gonado-toxicity when combining the two treatments.

Fertility after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: A call to action

INTRODUCTION

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is increasingly accepted as the best therapeutic option in primary and some secondary peritoneal malignancies. The ramifications of this procedure on fertility are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the current association of CRS/HIPEC with fertility following surgery.

METHODS

A review of patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC between 2009 and 2018 was performed. Female patients were included if they were between ages 18-50 at the time of surgery. Gynecologic and obstetric history before and following CRS/HIPEC was collected by phone interview.

RESULTS

Of 48 eligible participants, 21 completed the survey. Sixty-five percent of women underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy before or during CRS. Twenty-nine percent of these women recall fertility counseling before CRS/HIPEC, while 14.3% saw a fertility specialist for consultation, and only one patient proceeded with oocyte cryopreservation before treatment. There were no pregnancies reported following treatment with CRS/HIPEC.

CONCLUSION

Few patients after CRS/HIPEC retain child-bearing potential, partly due to the high rate of hysterectomy and oophorectomy at time of surgery. Efforts towards improved preoperative counseling, increased oocyte cryopreservation, and evaluating the safety of preserving reproductive organs at the time of surgery are needed.

Preserving fertility in pseudomyxoma peritonei, a novel approach

Background

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the gold standard treatment for patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) but involves routine bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Young women wishing to maintain fertility may be reluctant to pursue this. An alternative strategy in women with low-grade PMP has been explored in the form of laparoscopic evacuation of pelvic and ovarian mucin with resection of the appendiceal tumour.

Methods

Between January 2012 and January 2015, four young women (aged 28-35 years) with PMP seeking to maintain fertility underwent laparoscopy, appendicectomy and pelvic mucinous evacuation and washout. Data regarding intra-operative and histopathological findings were collected. Endpoints were fertility-related outcomes and oncological follow-up.

Results

Infertility was a presenting symptom in three of the four women. All four had significant pelvic mucinous disease on radiological imaging and were offered CRS and HIPEC as definitive treatment, but chose laparoscopy with appendicectomy and copious irrigation and washout of the pelvis with stripping of mucinous disease off the ovarian surfaces. Postoperative histology demonstrated a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) in all patients with acellular mucin or low-grade mucinous carcinoma peritonei in the peritoneal cavity. All patients successfully conceived subsequently and gave birth to healthy babies. After 12-29 months follow-up, all women are well with no radiological or laparoscopic evidence of disease recurrence.

Conclusions

In patients with low-grade PMP, initial therapeutic laparoscopy can restore fertility, whilst providing short- to medium-term disease control. This modality in young women wishing to have children appears to be a feasible alternative to immediate CRS and HIPEC.