The role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer is theoretically an attractive approach taking into account the biology of the disease, the physiologic and anatomic characteristics of the peritoneal cavity, and the pharmacologic advantage of several anticancer agents when administered intraperitoneally compared to intravenously. In patients with advanced disease it can be used either as initial chemotherapy, for consolidation, or as salvage treatment. However, in all clinical settings only those with no gross residual disease or those with macroscopically very small volume residual disease (tumor nodules