Phase II study of regional treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy is becoming an accepted treatment of carcinomatosis.

Methods: Between February 2000 and January 2008, there were 101 consecutive patients with carcinomatosis who were treated with cytoreductive surgery + hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Patient and tumor characteristics, surgical details, complications, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were recorded prospectively.

Results: The majority (82%) of patients, median age 49 years (range, 18-77 y), had complete macroscopic cytoreduction (completeness of cytoreduction score, 0) despite a generally extensive tumor burden. Perioperative mortality and grade III/IV morbidity rates were 4% and 39%, respectively. Preliminary median DFS and OS have not been defined for appendix tumors at a median follow-up period of 16 months (range, 1-86 mo). Median DFS and OS for colonic tumors are 8 months and 26 months, respectively, with a median follow-up period of 12 months (range, 1-48 mo).

Conclusions: Combined regional treatment is feasible and holds significant promise for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis.