Neoadjuvant treatment of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination

To report our experience of neoadjuvant intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy (NIPS) for patients having a complete resection of the primary gastric cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC).

Patients with advanced peritoneal dissemination of primary gastric cancer had the placement of a peritoneal port system. For intraperitoneal chemotherapy, 40 mg of docetaxel and 150 mg of carboplatin were introduced in 1000 ml of saline on a weekly basis. Simultaneously, 100 mg/m2 of methotrexate and 600 mg/m2 of 5-fluorouracil were infused via a peripheral vein. A minimum of two cycles and up to six cycles of NIPS were used prior to cancer resection. At surgery a complete removal of the primary gastric cancer and the peritoneal implants by peritonectomy was attempted.

Sixty-one patients were enrolled in the study. Thirty-nine had positive intraperitoneal cytology which reverted to negative cytology after treatment in 22. Thirty-eight showed a partial response. Thirty patients came to resection and 14 patients could be made disease-free. Median survival time of all patients was 14.4 months. Patients who received a complete resection had a median survival time of 20.4 months. Grade III/IV toxicities were not found after two courses of NIPS, but did develop in seven patients after more than three courses of NIPS.

NIPS can downstage large volume peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. When combined with gastrectomy including peritonectomy a complete surgical resection was possible in one-quarter of the patients and resulted in a prolonged survival. This combined intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy for PC from gastric cancer is worthy of consideration for phase III clinical investigations.