INTRAPERITONEAL CHEMOTHERAPY FOR ADVANCED GASTRIC CANCER

Abstract

Objectives: In the current oncological practice, patients presenting advanced local gastric cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis can benefit from localregional treatments as well as from intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Treatment diversification for patients with advanced gastric cancer is being covered by administration through repeated pattern of cytostatics, directly intraperitoneal by implanting a port-a-cath system. Patients and methods: From January 1996 until December 2007, 31 patients of which 31 males and 9 females presenting peritoneal carcinomatosis having as starting point a gastric cancer, were submitted to intraperitoneal chemotherapy. This procedure represents an additional treatment to systemic chemotherapy. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were administered intraperitoneally, alone or in association. Results: The intraperitoneal chemotherapy used as palliative treatment in peritoneal carcinomatosys originating in gastric cancer, was generally well tolerated by patients and in 11 cases it managed to bring meaningful improvements related to life quality. Conclusions: Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may be considered as part of the adjuvant and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy arsenal. It represents a treatment targeted towards limited microscopical and macroscopical peritoneal disseminations. Port-a-cath systems are an efficient method of administration through follow-up treatment.