Peritoneal Metastases, a Frontier for Progress.

The treatments for peritoneal metastases have evolved over 30 years. Now the concepts that guided clinicians are being tested in clinical trials to optimize standardized treatment regimens. The essential features of a successful management plan are cytoreductive surgery combined with cancer chemotherapy in a large volume of intraperitoneal fluid administered into the peritoneal space. The cytotoxicity of the cancer chemotherapy is maximized by moderate hyperthermia. The patients must be carefully selected using well-defined prognostic indicators. The efforts to date are multinational with centers of excellence located throughout the world.