title: The role of prophylactic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the management of serosal involved gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastric origin is associated with poor survival. The use of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) did not significantly improve the survival of patients with this disease. A promising approach can be based on the use of HIPEC as prophylaxis of peritoneal dissemination.
  
  
  METHODS
  From our database, we have sampled 12 patients with advanced gastric cancer. In all cases, a D2 total gastrectomy was performed, associated with splenectomy in four cases. All patients were submitted to HIPEC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morbidity and mortality were 33.3% and 8.3%, respectively. The median survival was 24 months, with only one case (8.3%) of peritoneal recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of our experience and supported by literature data, we can affirm that HIPEC has a potential role in the prevention of gastric carcinomatosis. Certainly further studies are required on a larger scale to validate this new but promising approach.
authors.affiliation: Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy. amacri@unime.it.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saladino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fleres
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pruiti
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scollica
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossitto
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cucinotta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macrì
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Gastric cancer; HIPEC; prophylaxis