Cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy with mitomycin C for peritoneal carcinomatosis from nonappendiceal colorectal carcinoma.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CS) and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) are efficacious in patients with disseminated mucinous tumors of the appendix. We reviewed our experience using this approach for nonappendiceal colorectal cancer (NACC).

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of a prospective database for patients undergoing CS and IPHC with mitomycin C for peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal primary lesions between December 1991 and April 2002.

Results: There were 77 patients, with a median age of 54 years. Peritoneal carcinomatosis was synchronous and metachronous in 27% and 73% patients, respectively. Seventy-five percent of patients (n = 58) had received chemotherapy prior to IPHC. Complete resection of all gross disease was accomplished in 37 patients (48%). The mean carcinoembryonic antigen level decreased from a preoperative value of 31.2 to a postoperative value of 6.9 (P <.0001). Overall survival (OS) at 1, 3, and 5 years was 56%, 25%, and 17%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 15 months, the median OS was 16 months. Perioperative morbidity and mortality were 30% and 12%, respectively. Hematologic toxicity occurred in 15 patients (19%). Cox regression analysis identified poor performance status (P =.018), bowel obstruction (P =.001), malignant ascites (P =.001), and incomplete resection of gross disease (P =.011) as independent predictors of decreased survival. Patients with complete resection of all gross disease had a 5-year OS of 34%, with a median OS of 28 months.

Conclusions: CS and IPHC with mitomycin C can improve outcomes for select patients with peritoneal spread from NACC. One third of patients who undergo complete resection of gross disease have long-term survival.