Hyperthermia and fibrinolytic therapy do not improve the beneficial effect of radioimmunotherapy following cytoreductive surgery in rats with peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Cytoreductive surgery (CS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are standard treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) of colorectal cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that preclinical radioimmunotherapy (RIT) adjuvant to surgery in PC is a good alternative for HIPEC. Now we aimed to improve the effectiveness of RIT by combining it with whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) or fibrinolytic therapy.

METHODS

Rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with colon carcinoma cells. Animals underwent CS, CS + WBH (40 degrees C, 3 hours), CS + RIT (74 MBq 177Lu-labeled MG1), or CS + WBH + RIT. In the second experiment, rats underwent CS, CS + RIT, CS + recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA, twice daily, 3 days), or CS + RIT + rtPA.

RESULTS

Median survival after CS and CS + WBH was 34 and 37 days. Median survival after CS + RIT or CS + RIT + WBH was 63 and 86 days (p < 0.0003, p < 0.0006 compared to CS + WBH). Median survival after CS and CS + rtPA was 50 and 42 days (p = 0.1). Median survival was 106 days after CS + RIT and 103 days after CS + RIT + rtPA (p < 0.0001 compared to CS + rtPA). No difference was found between CS + RIT and CS + RIT + rtPA (p = 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of WBH or rtPA in combination with adjuvant RIT after CS for the treatment of PC of colonic was feasible but did not significantly potentiate the efficacy of RIT.