Drug development for intraperitoneal chemotherapy against peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastrointestinal cancer

Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from gastrointestinal cancer has been investigated and applied clinically for several decades. Cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy have been considered to be the optimal treatment options for selected patients with colorectal and gastric cancers with PC. Accumulating evidence suggests that the administration of IP paclitaxel for patients with PC from gastric cancer may improve the patient survival. The pharmacokinetics of such treatment should be considered to optimize IP chemotherapy. In addition, newly emerging molecular-targeted therapies and research into new drug delivery systems, such as nanomedicine or controlled absorption/release methods, are essential to improve the effects of IP chemotherapy. This review summarizes the current status and future prospects of IP chemotherapy for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.