Starting a peritoneal carcinomatosis treatment program in a developing country: A prospective analysis

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a key treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC).
• This advanced surgical oncology technique is emerging in Chile.
• This study details the protocol and perioperative outcomes of CRS plus HIPEC in Chile.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the protocol for CRS plus HIPEC in Chile.
• To report perioperative results and patient outcomes.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment in a new setting.

Main Methods:

• Review of a prospectively maintained database of patients with PC.
• Patient selection based on Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and primary tumor type.
• HIPEC administration using mitomycin C, followed by clinical data analysis.

Main Results:

• 76 patients underwent surgery; 53 had complete CRS and HIPEC.
• Colon-rectum cancer was the most frequent primary tumor site (49%).
• Major complications occurred in 26% of patients, with 83% disease-free survival at 26 months post-treatment.

Conclusions:

• The CRS plus HIPEC program in Chile was established safely.
• Morbidity rates are comparable to high-volume international centers.
• Successful outcomes depend on comprehensive preoperative evaluation, patient selection, and a multidisciplinary team.