title: Pathophysiology and biology of peritoneal carcinomatosis.
abstract: Peritoneal carcinomatosis represents a devastating form of cancer progression with a very poor prognosis. Its complex pathogenesis is represented by a dynamic process comprising several steps. To the best of our knowledge pathogenesis can be partly explained by 3 major molecular pathways: (1) dissemination from the primary tumor; (2) primary tumor of peritoneum; and (3) independent origins of the primary tumor and peritoneal implants. These are not mutually exclusive and combinations of different mechanisms could occur inside a single case. There are still several aspects which need explanation by future studies. A comprehensive understanding of molecular events involved in peritoneal carcinomatosis is of paramount importance and should be systematically pursued not only to identify novel strategies for the prevention of the condition, but also to obtain therapeutic advances, through the identification of surrogate markers of prognosis and development of future molecular targeted therapies.
authors.affiliation: Shigeki Kusamura, Dario Baratti, Barbara Laterza, Maria Rosaria Balestra, Marcello Deraco, Department of Surgery, National Cancer Institute of Milan, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kusamura
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baratti
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laterza
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Balestra
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deraco