[Evidence and issues in standardization of intraperitoneal chemotherapy]

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) chemotherapy targets i.p. regional metastasis by maintenance of high-dose intensity. Thus, it is applied for cancers in which i.p. lesions limit the prognosis or QOL of patients. In ovarian cancer, ample evidence to support survival benefit of i.p. chemotherapy has been established, however, its standardization has not yet been accomplished. NCI has made efforts for the dissemination of and education in i.p. therapy, and GOG's research focuses on a less toxic i.p. regimen. In gastric cancer, the advantage of i.p. therapy has not been proved, and for its approval, phase I-III trial of i.p. with or without cytoreduction surgery should be initiated.