Intraperitoneal therapy in the management of patients with ovarian cancer

Basic pharmacologic principles support the concept that more drugs can be delivered to the tumor when it is delivered through the intraperitoneal route. Pharmacokinetic studies have confirmed that for many chemotherapeutic agents a substantial pharmacologic advantage can be achieved using this approach. Preliminary studies have suggested that intraperitoneal chemotherapy may be especially advantageous in patients with small-volume disease or in patients who have a negative second-look laparotomy. Clinical studies are ongoing to further define the role intraperitoneal therapy will play in the management of patients with ovarian cancer.