Toxicity and quality of life after cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of our study was to determine the toxicity and quality of life for patients with peritoneal metastases after cytoreductive surgery (CS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPC).


METHODS
From 2001 to 2005, 35 consecutive patients with peritoneal metastases enrolled in a prospective trial approved by the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board. Their primary cancer sites included the appendix (19 patients), colon (7), mesothelioma (3), stomach (2), small bowel (2), gallbladder (1), and unknown (1). We performed CS in an effort to remove all or nearly all peritoneal tumor nodules. Using a closed technique, we administered hyperthermic mitomycin C into the peritoneal cavity for 90 min. Before treatment and then at 4-month postoperative intervals, we used the functional assessment of cancer therapy-colon subscale (FACT-C) instrument to assess the patients' quality of life.


RESULTS
The median hospital stay was 9 days; 12 patients were hospitalized at least 30 days or required readmission within 30 days after treatment. The postoperative mortality rate was 0%; adverse events occurred in 18 (51%) patients. As of December 2005, 20 patients were alive; 14 had died of progressive disease and 1 of an unrelated cause. The median survival time was 21.4 months. Quality of life measurements, including trial outcome index (TOI), FACT-colon, and FACT-general, returned to baseline 4 months after treatment and were significantly improved at 8 and 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite early toxicity, CS plus HIPC may prolong the overall survival rate of patients with peritoneal metastases and improve quality of life measurements.
Tuttle
Todd M
TM
Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Minnesota Medical Center, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. tuttl006@umn.edu
Zhang
Yan
Y
Greeno
Edward
E
Knutsen
Amy
A
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin