Unresectable peritoneal metastasis treated by pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) leading to cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND

PIPAC is a recent method of intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of the patients who became amenable to CRS & HIPEC after PIPAC treatment.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with unresectable PM who became resectable throughout PIPAC treatment were included. Outcome criteria were adverse events following PIPAC procedure and rate of secondary CRS and HIPEC.

RESULTS

Four hundred thirty-seven PIPAC were done in 146 consecutive patients. Among them, 26 patients (17.8%) who underwent 76 PIPAC were scheduled for CRS and HIPEC after reduction of the peritoneal burden. PM were from gastric, peritoneal mesothelioma, ovarian, colorectal and small bowel in 13, 7, 4, 1 and 1 patients, respectively. At the time of the first PIPAC, median age was 58.6 years (32-76.3). Median PCI was 16 (1-39). All patients had systemic chemotherapy in between PIPAC session. Median consecutive PIPAC procedure was 3 (1-8). Complications occurred in 3 PIPAC session (4%) and there was no major complication (CTCAE III or higher). Complete CRS and HIPEC was achieved in 21 patients of the 26 scheduled (14.4%). The remaining 5 patients were considered unresectable at the exploratory laparotomy. Among patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC, with median follow-up of 7 (1-26) months, 14 patients (66.7%) were alive without recurrence, 2 patients (9.5%) were alive with recurrence and 5 patients (23.8%) died.

CONCLUSIONS

Complete CRS and HIPEC can be achieved in strictly selected patient with unresectable PM at diagnosis after repeated PIPAC session with palliative intent.