Peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin

Complete resection of macroscopic colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), followed by intraoperative intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (IPCH) to treat residual microscopic disease achieves cure in some patients. We report long-term results concerning survival of a phase II study using oxaliplatin (LOHP).

From June 1998 to December 2003, thirty patients with macroscopic colorectal PC underwent complete resection of PC followed by IPCH with LOHP performed in an open abdominal cavity. The dose of LOHP was 460 mg/m2 in 2 L/m2 of iso-osmotic 5% dextrose, over 30 min at an intraperitoneally homogenous temperature of 43 degrees C and at a flow rate of 2 L/min in the continuous closed circuit. During the hour preceding IPCH, patients received 5-fluorouracil (400 mg/m2) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2) intravenously. All patients received neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy.

Mean peritoneal tumor extension (Sugarbaker's Score) was 14.3 +/- 3.8, median operative duration, 450 min, and median blood loss, 940 mL. Eleven (37%) patients had associated extra-peritoneal lesions which were resected during the same procedure. There were no postoperative deaths and grade 2-3 morbidity (requiring specific treatment) was 40%. Median follow-up was 55 months (range: 31-84). Twenty-two patients (73%) relapsed after a median interval of 14 months, but 7 of them (32%) were amenable to curative repeat surgery. At 3 and 5 years, overall survival rates (95% confidence interval) were 53% (9-72), and 48.5% (31-66) respectively. At 3 and 5 years, disease-free survival rates were 41.5% (27-59), and 34% (19-52) respectively. Median survival was 60.1 months.

When feasible, this treatment modality yields a 5-year survival rate of 48.5%, with median survival attaining 60.1 months.