Efficacy of intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia with oxaliplatin in colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis. Preliminary results in 24 patients.

BACKGROUND: The complete resection of macroscopic colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), followed by intraoperative intraperitoneal chemohyperthermia (IPCH) to treat residual microscopic disease, leads to cure in some patients. We report preliminary results on survival in a phase II study using oxaliplatin (LOHP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with macroscopic colorectal PC underwent complete resection of the PC followed by IPCH with LOHP performed in an open abdominal cavity. The dose of LOHP was 460 mg/m(2) in 2 l/m(2), during 30 min at 43 degrees C, at a flow rate of 2 l/min. During the hour preceding IPCH, they received an intravenous administration of 5-fluorouracil (400 mg/m(2)) and leucovorin (20 mg/m(2)). RESULTS: Mean peritoneal tumoral extension (Sugarbaker's Index) was 16.9 +/- 9.5, median operative duration was 490 min and median blood loss was 965 ml. There were two postoperative deaths (8%) by intracerebral hemorrhage, and morbidity rate was 41.6%. Minimal follow-up was 18 months and median follow-up was 27.4 months (range 18.3-49.6). At 1, 2 and 3 years, overall survival rates were 83%, 74% and 65%, and disease-free survival rates were 70%, 50% and 50%, respectively. Only 32% of the 22 postoperative living patients presented a peritoneal recurrence. A peritoneal index >24 influenced survival, with a 17% recurrence rate at 2 years versus 63% when it was <24 (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: This new modality of treatment, when feasible, gives encouraging preliminary results, with a promising 3-year survival rate of 65%.