Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer: an update

In the treatment of advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)-associated surgery and chemotherapy with intravenous platinum/taxane-based therapy most patients had early or late recurrence. Prevention of progression and recurrence is a major objective for the management of EOC. Recently, many clinical studies have evaluated the strategy with hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal (IP) drug delivery. This is an update of hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in EOC and a view for future strategies. Until recently studies on HIPEC in patients with EOC were mostly retrospective and heterogeneous. Thanks to recent clinical trials, it is reasonable to conclude that surgical cytoreduction and HIPEC is an interesting approach in the management of EOC without increasing morbidity.