Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Cytoreductive Surgery in the Management of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Predicting Severe Complications from Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Data-Driven, Machine Learning Approach to Augment Clinical Judgment

BACKGROUND

CRS-HIPEC provides oncologic benefit in well-selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis; however, it is a morbid procedure. Decision tools for preoperative patient selection are limited. We developed a risk score to predict severity of 90 day complications for cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adults who underwent CRS-HIPEC at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (March 2001-April 2020) were analyzed as part of this study. Primary endpoint was severe complications within 90 days following CRS-HIPEC, defined using Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) scores as a dichotomous (determined using restricted cubic splines) and continuous variable. Data were divided into training and test sets. Several machine learning and traditional algorithms were considered.

RESULTS

For the 1959 CRS-HIPEC procedures included, CCI ranged from 0 to 100 (median 32.0). Adjusted restricted cubic splines model defined severe complications as CCI > 61. A minimum of 20 variables achieved optimal performance of any of the models. Linear regression achieved the highest area under the receiving operator characteristic curve (AUC, 0.74) and outperformed the NSQIP Surgical Risk calculator (AUC 0.80 vs. 0.66). Factors most positively associated with severe complications included peritoneal carcinomatosis index score, symptomatic status, and undergoing pancreatectomy, while American Society of Anesthesiologists 2 class, appendiceal diagnosis, and preoperative albumin were most negatively associated with severe complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This study refines our ability to predict severe complications within 90 days of discharge from a hospitalization in which CRS-HIPEC was performed. This advancement is timely and relevant given the growing interest in this procedure and may have implications for patient selection, patient and referring provider comfort, and survival.

Race and Ethnicity Impacts Overall Survival of Patients with Appendiceal Cancer Who Undergo Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Appendiceal cancer treatment may include cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). We investigated whether patient race/ethnicity influences outcomes and overall survival for patients with appendiceal cancer who undergo CRS/HIPEC. We queried the National Cancer Database for adult patients with appendiceal cancer treated with CRS/HIPEC from 2006 to 2018. Patients were stratified by race/ethnicity: non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Hispanic, and Other. Sociodemographics and outcomes were compared using descriptive statistics. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank tests assessed differences in overall survival (OS). Cox Multivariate Regression evaluated factors associated with OS. In total, 2532 patients were identified: 2098 (82.9%) NHW, 186 (7.3%) NHB, 127 (5.0%) Hispanic, and 121 (4.8%) Other patients. The sociodemographics were statistically different across groups. The perioperative and postoperative outcomes were similar. OS was significantly different by race/ethnicity (p = 0.0029). NHB patients compared to Hispanic patients had the shortest median OS (106.7 vs. 145.9 months, p = 0.0093). Race/ethnicity was independently associated with OS: NHB (HR: 2.117 [1.306, 3.431], p = 0.0023) and NHW (HR: 1.549 [1.007, 2.383], p = 0.0463) patients compared to Hispanic patients had worse survival rates. Racial/ethnic disparities exist for patients with appendiceal cancer undergoing CRS/HIPEC. Despite having similar tumor and treatment characteristics, OS is associated with patient race/ethnicity.

Peritoneal Carcinosis: What the Radiologist Needs to Know

Peritoneal carcinosis is a condition characterized by the spread of cancer cells to the peritoneum, which is the thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. It is a serious condition that can result from many different types of cancer, including ovarian, colon, stomach, pancreatic, and appendix cancer. The diagnosis and quantification of lesions in peritoneal carcinosis are critical in the management of patients with the condition, and imaging plays a central role in this process. Radiologists play a vital role in the multidisciplinary management of patients with peritoneal carcinosis. They need to have a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of the condition, the underlying neoplasms, and the typical imaging findings. In addition, they need to be aware of the differential diagnoses and the advantages and disadvantages of the various imaging methods available. Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis and quantification of lesions, and radiologists play a critical role in this process. Ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and PET/CT scans are used to diagnose peritoneal carcinosis. Each imaging procedure has advantages and disadvantages, and particular imaging techniques are recommended based on patient conditions. Our aim is to provide knowledge to radiologists regarding appropriate techniques, imaging findings, differential diagnoses, and treatment options. With the advent of AI in oncology, the future of precision medicine appears promising, and the interconnection between structured reporting and AI is likely to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes for patients with peritoneal carcinosis.

Histopathological Evaluation and Molecular Diagnostic Tests for Peritoneal Metastases with Unknown Primary Site-a Review

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a well-studied entity with guidelines available for the management of patients with CUP. The peritoneum represents one of the metastatic sites in CUP, and peritoneal metastases (PM) could present as CUP. PM of unknown origin remains a poorly studied clinical entity. There is only one series of 15 cases, one population-based study, and few other case reports on this subject. Studies on CUP, in general, cover some common tumour histological types like adenocarcinomas and squamous carcinomas. Some of these tumours may have a good prognosis though majority have high-grade disease with a poor long-term outcome. Some of the histological tumour types commonly seen in the clinical scenario of PM like mucinous carcinoma have not been studied. In this review, we divide PM into five histological types-adenocarcinomas, serous carcinomas, mucinous carcinomas, sarcomas and other rare varieties. We provide algorithms to identify the primary tumour site using immunohistochemistry when imaging, and endoscopy fails to establish the primary tumour site. The role of molecular diagnostic tests for PM or unknown origin is also discussed. Current literature on site-specific systemic therapy based on gene expression profiling does not show a clear benefit of this approach over empirical systemic therapies.

Racial Disparities in Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: Does Aggressive Surgical Treatment Overcome Cancer Health Inequities?

Background

Advanced cancer states perpetuate health-related disparities. Peritoneal-based cancers are clinically advanced cancers that present a significant clinical dilemma. Peritoneal cancers are managed aggressively with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). While racial and ethnic disparities are prevalent in cancer, there are no studies investigating if racial disparities exist in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis managed with CRS and HIPEC. We hypothesized that this advanced disease state further delineates racial disparities.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis receiving CRS and HIPEC at a single institution from January 1, 2017-October 4, 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to compare racial groups. The Cox Proportional Hazards Model and Log Rank Test were used for multivariate and overall survival analysis.

Results

In total, 67 patients underwent CRS and HIPEC, of which 41 (61.2%) were White, 20 (29.8%) were Black, 3 (4.5%) were Asian, and 3 (4.5%) were Other race. When compared to White patients, Black patients had lower income (p=0.0011), higher incidence of hypertension (p=0.0231), and lower performance status (p=0.0441). Cancer type, including colorectal, appendiceal, ovarian, etc., was similar between groups (p=0.8703). Despite these differences in sociodemographic and morbidity factors, when comparing Black patients to White patients, there were no differences in peritoneal cancer index score (13.2 vs. 12.3, p=0.6932), estimated blood loss (748 vs. 655 mL, p=0.6332), minor/major complication rates (1.1 vs. 1.2, p=0.7281; 0.4 vs. 0.7, p=0.3470, respectively), 30-day readmission rates (25.0% vs. 17.1%, p=0.6210), disease recurrence (40.0% vs. 51.2%, p=0.3667), or 30-day mortality (0.0% vs. 2.4%, p=1.0000). Overall survival was similar for Black and White patients (p=0.2693). The occurrence of a major complication was the only factor associated with overall survival (HR 2.188 [1.502, 3.188], p< 0.0001).

Conclusions

Despite differences in patient socioeconomic factors and comorbid conditions, outcomes were similar between Black and White patients receiving CRS and HIPEC at our institution. While larger studies with more diverse patient populations are needed to confirm these findings, our data provide evidence that aggressive surgical management across diverse patient populations allows for equitable outcomes.

A Review of the Clinical Implications of Cachexia, Sarcopenia, and BMI in Patients with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Receiving Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Simple Summary

Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from varying cancers may be affected by weight loss and decreased muscle mass, the hallmarks of cachexia. These patients can undergo surgical management via cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy to improve their overall survival. Here, we review the current literature investigating the impact of sarcopenia, cachexia, and body mass index on outcomes in a patient population that undergo surgical treatment. The results vary across the studies suggesting that further investigation is necessary to better understand the impact of these entities on postoperative outcomes and survival.

Abstract

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is the dissemination of cancer throughout the peritoneal cavity. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the surgical treatment of choice in highly selected patients. The aim of this narrative review was to assess the impact of cachexia, sarcopenia, and body mass index (BMI) on patient outcomes for patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC for peritoneal carcinomatosis. A narrative review was performed and articles pertaining to cachexia, sarcopenia, BMI, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and CRS/HIPEC were reviewed and selected. In total, 3041 articles were screened and seven original studies met the inclusion criteria. In summary, obesity was found to not be a contraindication to surgery, but the impact of BMI was variable across the spectrum. Decreased skeletal muscle mass was found to be associated with poorer postoperative outcomes in three studies and with worse overall survival in two. With limited data, evaluating the impact of BMI, sarcopenia, and cachexia on patients with PC undergoing CRS and HIPEC was difficult as most studies included heterogeneous cancer patient populations; thus, postoperative outcomes and survival were inconsistent across studies. More research is needed to better understand its impact and to better generalize the results for each cancer subset treated with CRS and HIPEC across diverse patient populations.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy of the peritoneal surface using high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS): investigation of technical feasibility, safety and possible limitations

Introduction: The penetration of chemotherapeutic drugs into peritoneal nodules remains at levels well below 1 mm, thus significantly limiting the antitumor effect of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC). Recently, high-Intensity ultrasound (HIUS) has been discovered as a potential tool to significantly improve peritoneal diffusion rates. Despite promising preliminary data, basic aspects regarding its technical feasibility, safety and possible limitations remain unclear. This study aims to enhance our current understanding of HIUS and test its applicability using an ex-vivo swine model. Methods: Three postmortem swine were subject to laparotomy and consecutive lavage with 0.9%NaCl saline and HIUS application. For this purpose, a large HIUS radiating pen was introduced into the abdominal cavity and HIUS was applied on two of the four abdominal quadrants for 300 seconds each at an output power of 70 W, 50 % amplitude and 20 kHz frequency. Following the procedure, small intestinal tissue samples were retrieved for further analyses. Results: Peritoneal and subperitoneal layers showed structural changes only visible on a microscopic level. The peritoneal layer was transformed into a mesh-like structure while the subperitoneal layer (depth of 142 +/- 28 µm) exhibited microcavities and vascular detachment from surrounding tissues. No bowel rupture or vascular perforations were observed. Conclusions: Our data indicate that HIUS is a technically feasible and safe add-on procedure for intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) with measurable microscopic changes on the peritoneal surface. Pretreatment of the abdominal cavity with HIUS could significantly improve IPC efficacy. Further studies are required to optimize and evaluate this novel approach.

Efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the management of malignant ascites

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to compare the difference of clinical efficacy between conventional intraperitoneal chemotherapy and HIPEC, so as to explore the clinical application value and advantages of HIPEC.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 patients with malignant ascites admitted to our hospital from June 2017 to June 2019. The general clinical data and qualitative data of the treatment results of 80 patients with malignant ascites were processed by SPSS19.0 using χ² test, and quantitative data were processed by t test. P < 0.05, statistical data can be considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

1. There was no significant change in vital signs and temperature in the observation group during the treatment, and the difference was not statistically significant. 2. The short-term total effective rate of patients in the observation group was 91.11%, and the short-term total effective rate of the patients in the control group was 40%. 3. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients.

CONCLUSION

Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy combined with intravenous chemotherapy can significantly control malignant ascites and has small adverse reactions, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Effect of early body cavity continuous circulation hyperthermia perfusion chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy (and nursing) on survival rate and serum tumor markers in patients with advanced gastric cancer

This study was designed to investigate the effects of early coelom continued circulatory hyperthermic perfusion chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy on the survival and serum tumor markers. A total of 128 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma who have received surgical treatments were selected and were randomly divided into study group (receiving early circulatory intraperitoneal hyperthermic perfusion chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy postoperatively) and control group (receiving chemotherapy alone postoperatively), with 64 cases in each. Comparison of serum tumor markers (CA724, CA242), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), immune function indexes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), and 5-year survival rate was assessed. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the serum tumor markers (CA724 and CA242) as well as the serum VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels among the two groups ( P > 0.05). However, the above parameters in the study group were significantly lower than control group 8 weeks after the treatment ( P < 0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Eight weeks after the treatment, the CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P < 0.05), while the CD8+ levels was significantly lower than the latter group ( P < 0.05). The 2-year recurrence rate in the study group was lower than the control group ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, survival rates (1-year, 3-year and 5-year) of the study group were all higher than control group ( P < 0.05). Early circulatory hyperthermia perfusion chemotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy contributed to the decrease in the serum tumor markers (CA724, CA242) as well as the serum VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels, improved the immune functions. This therapeutic regimen prolonged the long-term survival conditions of the patients as well as proved the safety and effectiveness.

Increased Tissue Penetration of Doxorubicin in Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) after High-Intensity Ultrasound (HIUS)

BACKGROUND

High-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) has been studied for the past two decades as a new therapeutic option for solid tumor direct treatment and a method for better chemotherapy delivery and perfusion. This treatment approach has not been tested to our knowledge in peritoneal metastatic therapy, where limited tissue penetration of intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been a main problem. Both liquid instillations and pressurized aerosols are affected by this limitation. This study was performed to evaluate whether HIUS improves chemotherapy penetration rates.

METHODS

High-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) was applied for 0, 5, 30, 60, 120, and 300 seconds on the peritoneal tissue samples from fresh postmortem swine. Samples were then treated with doxorubicin via pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) under 12 mmHg and 37°C temperature. Tissue penetration of doxorubicin was measured using fluorescence microscopy on frozen thin sections.

RESULTS

Macroscopic structural changes, identified by swelling of the superficial layer of the peritoneal surface, were observed after 120 seconds of HIUS. Maximum doxorubicin penetration was significantly higher in peritoneum treated with HIUS for 300 seconds, with a depth of 962.88 ± 161.4 μm (p < 0.05). Samples without HIUS had a penetration depth of 252.25 ± 60.41. Tissue penetration was significantly increased with longer HIUS duration, with up to 3.8-fold increased penetration after 300 sec of HIUS treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that HIUS may be used as a method to prepare the peritoneal tissue for intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Higher tissue penetration rates can be achieved without increasing chemotherapy concentrations and preventing structural damage to tissue using short time intervals. More studies need to be performed to analyze the effect of HIUS in combination with intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Surgery in ovarian cancer - Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology consensus

Surgical management in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has a significant impact in overall survival and progression-free survival. The Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology (BSSO) supported a taskforce of experts to reach a consensus: experienced and specialised trained surgeons, in cancer centres, provide the best EOC surgery. Laparoscopic and/or radiological staging prognosticates the possibility of complete cytoreduction (CC0) and helps to reduce unnecessary laparotomies. Surgical techniques were reviewed. Multidisciplinary input is essential for treatment planning. Quality assurance criteria are proposed and require national consensus. Genetic testing is mandatory. This consensus states the final recommendations from BSSO for management of EOC.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology consensus for surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

Clinicopathological Features and Management of Appendiceal Mucoceles: A Systematic Review

Appendiceal mucoceles (AMs) are rare mucin-containing neoplasms with malignant potential. Lack of evidence-based data exists defining clinicopathological features for management. MEDLINE search between 1995 and 2015 was performed using search criteria “Appendix mucocele.” Systematic review of patient-, pathologic-, and treatment-related characteristics was performed and data analyzed. Among 276 cases of non-perforated AMs, 163 (59%) patients were female, with variable and nonspecific presentation. Patients were treated with appendectomy (52.1%), right hemicolectomy (17.6%), partial cecectomy (17.2%), and ileocecetomy (13.1%). Pathologic evaluation revealed the following: cystadenoma/low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (54%), unspecified/benign (25%), retention cyst (14.1%), cystadenocarcinoma (4.2%), and mucosal hyperplasia (2.9%). All 11 (4.2%) patients with cystadenocarcinoma were female ( P = 0.004), odds ratio for malignancy 1.07 times higher for women. Synchronous colonic malignancy was reported in three patients (27%) with cystadenocarcinoma ( P = 0.007), odds ratio of 12.1. AMs have low risk for malignancy. Treatment should begin with appendectomy-only and subsequently guided by pathologic diagnosis.

Intraperitoneal immunotherapy: historical perspectives and modern therapy

Intraperitoneal immunotherapy represents a novel strategy for the management of peritoneal metastases (PM). Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has remained the gold standard of treatment for patients with PM, yet despite optimal treatment, recurrence rates remain high and long-term survival poor. From Coley's toxins to immune checkpoint inhibitors, the wide variety of anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies are now garnering attention for control of regional disease of the peritoneal cavity. Early studies with vaccine-based therapies, adoptive cell transfer, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric T cells with tumor-specific antigen receptors (CAR-T cells) are being performed, showing promise for control of peritoneal spread and induction of lasting anticancer immunity. In addition, catumaxomab, a trifunctional antibody, has been approved for intraperitoneal immunotherapy in Europe for the control of malignant ascites in patients with epithelial cell adhesion molecule positive cancers. We review a brief history of immunotherapy and current modalities under investigation for intraperitoneal use in the treatment of PM.