Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Ovarian Cancer / 22.01.2018
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Improves Longevity in Some Ovarian Cancer
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. W.J. van Driel
Gynaecologic Oncologist
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Amsterdam
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Our study reports on the results of a randomized phase 3 study in patients with FIGO stage III ovarian cancer who were ineligible for primary cytoreductive surgery and therefore treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and interval cytoreductive surgery. Following optimal or complete cytoreductive surgery another 3 cycles of chemotherapy were given. During the interval cytoreductive surgery patients were randomized between surgery alone or surgery + HIPEC. During hyperthermic intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy (HIPEC) the abdomen is perfused with cisplatin to expose any remaining minimal or microscopic disease to a high dose of heated chemotherapy.
The main findings are that the addition of HIPEC to interval cytoreductive surgery resulted in longer recurrence-free survival and overall survival than surgery alone and the addition of HIPEC did not result in higher rates of side effects. (more…)