Advanced cytoreduction as surgical standard of care and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy as promising treatment in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Favorable oncological outcomes have been reported in several trials with the introduction of Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC). However most of the studies testing the combined approach are observational and have been conducted in inhomogeneous series so that the evidence supporting the performance of this combined treatment is still poor. Median Overall and Disease Free Survivals of up to 64 months and 57 months, respectively have been reported. Although a rate of morbidity of up to 40% has been observed in some series the CRS + HIPEC continues to gain an increased popularity. Several prospective randomized trials are ongoing using the procedure in various time points of the disease. In this review several issues such as the impact of cytoreduction and residual disease (RD) on outcomes as well as the role of HIPEC will be updated from the literature evidence. Some controversial points HIPEC related will also be discussed. Recent experiences regarding the introduction of a more aggressive surgical approach to upper abdomen to resect peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) allowed increased rates of optimal cytoreduction and has demonstrated an apparent better outcome. This evidence associated with the positive results phase III trial testing normothermic intraperitoneal as first-line chemotherapy is guiding some investigators to propose the CRS + HIPEC in the primary setting. Several prospective phase II and III trials have recently been launched to validate the role of the combined treatment in various time points of disease natural evolution.

Multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: outcomes and patho-biological features in a multi-institutional series treated by cytoreductive surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).

AIM: This retrospective multi-institutional study addresses the role of surgical cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma (MCPM). MCPM is an uncommon tumour with uncertain malignant potential and no current standard therapy. Additionally, poorly defined pathological and biological features of this disease were investigated. METHODS: Twelve patients with MCPM underwent 14 procedures of cytoreduction and HIPEC in two Italian referral centres. Nine patients had recurrent disease after previous debulking (one operation in six patients, two in two, four in one). Biological markers related to mesothelioma origin and clinical features were assessed by immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 64 months (range 5-148). Optimal cytoreduction (residual tumour nodules ≤2.5 mm) was performed in all the procedures. One grade IV postoperative complication (NCI/CTCAE v.3.0) and no operative death occurred. All the patients are presently alive with no evidence of disease, including two patients who underwent the procedure twice, due to locoregional disease recurrence. Five- and ten-year progression-free survival was 90% and 72%, accounting for a. statistically significant difference (P = 0.0001) with progression-free survival following previous debulking surgery (median 11 months; range 2-31). All cases showed low proliferative activity assessed by mitotic rate and Ki-67 expression. CONCLUSIONS: MCPM is a borderline tumour with a high propensity to local-regional recurrence. Definitive tumour eradication by means of cytoreduction and HIPEC seems more effective than debulking surgery in preventing disease relapse. Low mitotic rate and poor Ki-67 expression might be related to the peculiar behaviour of MCMP.

Cost analysis of the combined procedure of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

AIM: The aim of the present study was to address the economic cost of the innovative comprehensive approach involving cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to treat peritoneal surface malignancies, and to compare it with the financial support received by our centre. METHODS: A retrospective economic analysis was carried out on 382 consecutive procedures performed at a tertiary referral centre during the period 1995-2008. The costs of the combined therapy were estimated using the activity-based costing methodology. The financial support was assessed according to the current diagnosis-related group classification and reimbursement rates. RESULTS: The mean cost for one hospital stay was euro36,015.89 (range 28,435.24-82,189.08); mean length of stay was 24.3 days (range 9-108). In counterpart, our hospital received a total financial support of euro804,483.30, resulting in a deficit of euro1861,301.99 for the two years. CONCLUSION: The Italian current diagnosis-related groups classification does not include cytoreduction and HIPEC. This results in a relevant economic deficit for the hospitals offering this treatment option to their patients and a slow diffusion of the technique in our country. Two corrective measures are needed: to include this procedure in the official list of medical acts, and to determine its specific cost for reimbursing.

[Pelvic recurrence of rectal cancer: our experience]. / Recidiva pelvica da cancro del retto: nostra esperienza.

Isolated recurrence of rectal carcinoma have been reported from 7% to 33% with a median of 15. Increasing recurrence is associated with increasing Dukes's stage. Patient who have recurrence after a low-anterior resection are more likely to present with non fixed, surgically correctable lesion versus recurrences after abdominoperineal resection. The most common symptom related to pelvic recurrence is pain, which may be perineal or radiate to the lower extremities. The diagnosis of a locally recurrent rectal cancer was obtained with CT; imaging is the first step to estimate the extent and location of the local tumor growth and the presence or absence of distant metastases. The most common location is at or around the anastomosis and the presacral region. Apart from distant metastases locoregional recurrence is the most important factor determining prognosis and survival. If an R0 resection can be performed, a 5-year survival rate of 20-30% can be achieved. Local or locoregional recurrence implies the reappearance of carcinoma after an intended complete removal of the tumor. For rectal cancer, the adjacent organs include the perineum, bladder and vagina, and LR failure includes perineal or pelvic lesions. Total pelvic exenteration is performed in patients with local recurrence of rectal cancer and a 5-year suvival rate of 30-40% was achieved. For patient with unresectable recurrence, chemotherapy and radiation contribute to a better quality of life and prolong survival. While radiotherapy may reduce recurrence, it is now apparent that total mesorectal excision is the most effective modality, with rates as low as 5%. The anastomotic recurrence that can be locally resected, the best approach for long-term survival is an extensive surgical procedure requiring en bloc removal of adjacent organs and pelvic structures so called composite resection. Intraoperative radiotherapy and brachytherapy, and/or preoperative chemoradiation may provide better results in future. While radioterapy remains the most common antineoplastic modality used for palliation of symptoms, surgical resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment for carcinoma of colon and rectum.

[Laparoscopic surgery of adrenal gland metastasis: case report]. / La chirurgia laparoscopica delle metastasi surrenaliche: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is unanimously recognised as the gold standard for the surgical treatment of adrenal lesion. Also the role of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for metastasis is controversial. This study, in according with literature dates, aimed to confirm that patients are most likely to have prolonged survival after resection of adrenal metastases and confirms that oncological outcome of laparoscopic adrenalectomy are similar with open adrenalectomy. PATIENT AND METHODS: The study included patients who underwent LA from 2000 to 2005. Indications for LA were adrenal masses with no radiological evidence of involvement of the surrounding structure, or solitary metastases with well-controlled primary cancer. The variable evaluated were port-site and intra-addominal recurrence, distant metastasis and survival time. Primary tumors were the followings: lymphoma non-Hodgkin, lung cancer. Patients age was mean 69 (range, 62-77), the lesions were at right adrenal gland. No conversion to open surgery occurred. No complication were observed. Mean operative time was 100 minutes (range, 90-110). No postoperative complication occurred. Mean diameter of the tumor was 4.5 cm (range, 4.2-4.8 cm). Tumor free margins were obtained. Mean hospital stay was 3 day. At follow-up mean of ten months (eight-twelve months) there was any sight of distant metastases and the patient was alive. CONCLUSION: LA seems to be a feasible option if the principles of oncological surgery are respected. Adrenalectomy for metastasis, with intent to prolong survival, should be offered to patient with favourable tumor biology, such as those with significant DFI.