Cytoreductive surgery (peritonectomy procedures) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND. Because of scarce data from larger series and nonhomogeneous selection criteria, further information is needed on peritonectomy with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in managing patients with ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis. METHODS. in an open, prospective, single-center nonrandomized phase 2 study conducted from November 2000 to April 2007, 47 patients with primary advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer and diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis were enrolled; 22 under-went primary and 25 secondary cytoreduction plus immediate HIPEC followed by systemic chemotherapy. RESULTS. The overall mean Sugarbaker peritoneal cancer index was 14.9 (range, 6-28). A mean of 6 surgical procedures were required per patient (range, 4-10). In 87.3% of the patients debulking achieved optimal cytoreduction (Sugarbaker completeness of cytoreduction [CC] score 0-1), whereas in 12.7% it left macroscopic residual disease (CC-2 or CC-3). Major complications developed in 21.3% of the patients and the in-hospital mortality rate was 4.2%. The mean overall survival was 30.4 months, median survival was 24 months, and mean disease-free survival was 27.4 months. Five-year survival was 16.7%. Univariate (log-rank test and analysis of variance) and multivariate analyses (Cox proportional-hazard model) identified the CC score as the main factor capable of independently influencing survival. CONCLUSIONS. Peritonectomy procedures combined with HIPEC offer promising long-term survival in patients with diffuse peritoneal ovarian carcinomatosis. They achieve high adequate primary and secondary surgical cytoreduction rates with acceptable morbidity and mortality.