Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy as adjuvant modality following radical surgery for advanced rectal cancer a new look to an old problem.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer has been well accepted over the last decade. Published data so far has been focused in the direction of giving the right chemotherapy dose, schedule, and combinations, in order to increase the efficacy and decrease the toxicity. METHODOLOGY: Eighty-seven patients with histological proved stage III rectal carcinoma were subjected to a combined adjuvant modality using laparoscopic heperthermic endoperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and systemic chemotherapy twenty days following the initial surgery. RESULTS: Seventy patients who completed a one year follow-up had a disease free survival. Among forty patients who completed the two year follow-up, two patients developed local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Cytoreduction followed by HIPEC improves survival in patients with rectal carcinoma and lymphnode positive and neurovascular involvement.