From the Guidelines
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is recommended for patients with stage III, optimally debulked ovarian cancer, as it has been shown to increase survival by 16 months compared to standard intravenous therapy 1. The treatment of ovarian cancer often involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, with the goal of removing as much of the tumor as possible and then using chemotherapy to target any remaining cancer cells.
- The use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy is specifically recommended for patients with stage III disease who have undergone optimal debulking, which means that the tumor has been reduced to less than 1 cm in size 1.
- This approach has been shown to be effective in increasing survival rates, with one study demonstrating a 16-month increase in survival compared to standard intravenous therapy 1.
- The recommended intraperitoneal regimen is paclitaxel, 135 mg/m2, continuous intravenous infusion over 24 hours on day 1, followed by intraperitoneal cisplatin, 75 to 100 mg/m2, on day 2 1.
- It's worth noting that while intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a valuable treatment option for some patients with ovarian cancer, it may not be suitable for all patients, particularly those with poor performance status or other underlying health conditions 1.
From the Research
Use of Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer
- Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy is used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, as evidenced by several studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The treatment involves the administration of chemotherapy directly into the peritoneal cavity, which can help to target cancer cells that are confined to this area.
- Different chemotherapy regimens have been used, including IP cisplatin and IP carboplatin, often in combination with intravenous paclitaxel 2, 4, 5.
Efficacy and Safety of IP Chemotherapy
- Studies have shown that IP chemotherapy can be effective in improving survival and reducing toxicity in patients with ovarian cancer 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- For example, a study found that IP carboplatin-based chemotherapy had less toxicity and less discontinuation of therapy compared to IP cisplatin-based chemotherapy 2.
- Another study demonstrated that the addition of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to interval cytoreductive surgery improved recurrence-free survival and overall survival in patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer 6.
Specific Chemotherapy Regimens
- IP cisplatin has been shown to have a survival benefit in advanced ovarian cancer, but patients may experience poor tolerance to the regimen 3.
- IP carboplatin has been found to have less toxicity and improved compliance compared to IP cisplatin 2, 5.
- The combination of intravenous paclitaxel and IP cisplatin has been effective in treating ovarian cancer with disseminated lesions in the peritoneum and diaphragm 4.