Colorectal carcinomatosis: a new oncologic frontier.
OBJECTIVE
In the past, carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer was determined to be a lethal condition with a short survival.


RESULTS
A new treatment strategy starts with cytoreductive surgery in an attempt to remove all visible evidence of cancer implants. Then, chemotherapy is used in the operating room with moderate hyperthermia (41-43 degrees C) in an attempt to eradicate microscopic residual disease. Multiple phase II, a phase III, and a multi-institutional phase II study of 503 patients showed that approximately one-third of these patients can survive long term.


CONCLUSIONS
The expansion of treatment options, including cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy with hyperthermia, to a larger number of patients is appropriate.
Sugarbaker
Paul H
PH
Washington Cancer Institute, Washington Hospital Center, DC 20010, USA. Paul.sugarbaker@medstar.net
D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*