Adjuvant perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy in locally advanced colorectal carcinoma: preliminary results

Background and Aims. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a basic tool in the treatment of peritoneal malignancy. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of adjuvant perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced colorectal cancer. Patients and Methods. Patients with T(3) and T(4) colorectal carcinomas that underwent R(0) resection received either hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC group = 40 patients) or early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC group = 67 patients). The survival, the recurrences and the sites of recurrence were assessed. Results. The 3-year survival rate for HIPEC group was 100% and for EPIC group 69% (P = .011). Nodal infiltration was found to be the single prognostic indicator of survival. The incidence of recurrence in EPIC group was higher than in HIPEC group (P = .009). The independent indicators of recurrence were the use of HIPEC and the degree of differentiation (P < .05). Conclusions. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy, particularly HIPEC, as an adjuvant in locally advanced colorectal carcinomas appears to improve survival and decrease the incidence of recurrence.