Comparative analysis of perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimen in appendiceal and colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (PIC) is delivered by intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC). The relative survival benefits of each or both regimens are explored in this large series of patients undergoing cytoreduction at a single institution.

METHODS: Patients with a complete (CCR0) or optimal (CCR1) cytoreduction who received intraperitoneal chemotherapy for appendiceal and colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis were included for analysis. PIC regimens were delivered according to the treatment protocol. Standardized statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Of 262 patients, 98 patients (37%) had colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis, 108 patients (41%) had low-grade pseudomyxoma peritonei and 56 patients (21%) had appendiceal peritoneal carcinomatosis. For pseudomyxoma peritonei, recurrence-free survival (RFS) did not vary with PIC regimen, 5-year survival was 86% in the HIPEC and EPIC group and 64% in the HIPEC or EPIC group (P = 0.070). For appendiceal peritoneal carcinomatosis, RFS and overall survival (OS) did not vary with PIC regimen. For colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis, the median RFS was 33 months in the HIPEC and EPIC group, 19 months in the HIPEC alone group and 20 months in the EPIC alone group (P = 0.046). OS did not vary with PIC regimen.

CONCLUSION: From our experience, without compromising the perioperative morbidity and mortality, PIC consisting of HIPEC and EPIC appears to be associated with potential survival benefits of improved OS in pseudomyxoma peritonei and RFS in colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis.