Extensive cytoreductive surgery combined with intra-operative intraperitoneal perfusion with cisplatin under hyperthermic conditions (OVHIPEC) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer: a feasibility pilot

Aims The feasibility, morbidity and toxicity of an intensified surgical treatment strategy consisting of aggressive cytoreductive surgery, intra-operative intraperitoneal perfusion of cisplatin and hyperthermia were evaluated in women with recurrent ovarian cancer. Methods Five heavily pre-treated patients with extensive abdominal tumour bulk entered this pilot study. In all cases aggressive cytoreduction leaving tumour remnants <5 mm in diameter could be performed. This was followed intra-operatively by perfusion of the abdominal cavity with hyperthermic cisplatin 50–70 mg/m2for 90 min. During perfusion the intra-abdominal temperature was maintained at 40°C. The median duration of surgery was 10 hours (range 9–11 hours). Results No major intra- or post-operative complications emerged. Median post-operative ileus (resuming of soft diet) was 11 days (9–13 days). The mean period of hospitalization was 25 days (range 17–42). Toxicity due to i.p. cisplatin was mainly metabolic and of grade 1–2, while no nephrotoxicity was observed. The pharmacokinetics of cisplatin indicated that the maximum concentration of cisplatin measured in the perfusate was 15 times higher than in plasma. Conclusions We conclude that aggressive cytoreduction combined with hyperthermic intra-operative intraperitoneal cisplatin was feasible in a small group of heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer patients with extensive tumour bulk with acceptable morbidity and toxicity. Further studies are required in larger groups of patients to further establish the feasibility of this intensified treatment strategy. We stress that OVHIPEC is not a treatment modality on its own for advanced ovarian cancer. The effectiveness of OVHIPEC is likely to be dependent on the effectiveness of post-operative adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimens.