Oxaliplatin for chemotherapeutic treatment and prevention of experimental peritoneal carcinomatosis in rats comparing the intraperitoneal and intravenous application mode.

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis after resection of colorectal carcinoma is still a major concern. In this study, we tested the cytostatic agent oxaliplatin delivered intraperitoneally and intravenously to prove whether it can significantly reduce intraperitoneal tumor growth.

METHODS

Peritoneal tumor growth was experimentally induced with transfer of CC-531 colon cancer cells (5 x 10(6)) to the peritoneal surface of rats via laparotomy. Oxaliplatin was delivered either intraperitoneally or intravenously. In group A, oxaliplatin was administered directly after tumor cell transfer. While oxaliplatin was applied in group B on days 5, 10, and 15 after tumor cell implantation, in group C, it was administered on days 10, 15 and 20. The rats were sacrificed on day 30 after tumor cell transfer. Tumor weight, relative increase in tumor mass, volume of malignant ascites and the number of tumor nodes were determined.

RESULTS

Oxaliplatin significantly inhibited tumor growth after direct (group A) and early postoperative application (group B) via the intraperitoneal route. The late postoperative administration of oxaliplatin (group C) did not cause a significant effect on peritoneal tumor growth as it did with the intravenous application mode in groups A, B, and C.

CONCLUSIONS

In this experimental model, oxaliplatin was highly effective against intraperitoneal tumor spread but only with the intraperitoneal application route. Other cytostatic agents with different effector mechanisms should be combined with oxaliplatin to further increase the therapeutic efficacy of the favorable intraperitoneal treatment in subsequent studies testing, in addition, the effects on wound and anastomosis healing.