Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Management of Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Dissemination: 30 Years of Experience at a Single Institution.

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is at the forefront of treatment for colorectal cancer with peritoneal metastasis or "carcinomatosis" (CRC-PC). We report outcomes of the operative management of CRC-PC at a single center.

STUDY

DESIGN

We retrospectively reviewed our database from 1992 through 2021. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival. Proportional hazards regression and multivariable models were used for assessments.

RESULTS

This study included 345 patients with mean age 53.5 years. Multivariate analysis revealed performance and resection status were associated with overall survival (OS; p < 0.001). Within the R0/R1 group, adverse impact on OS was found with increasing Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score starting at 9 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.98, CI 1.39-2.82, p = 0.0001) with the most significant hazard noted at PCI >14 (HR = 2.35, CI 1.52-3.63, p = 0.0001). Incomplete resection (R2) had significantly worse OS compared with complete CRS 33.4 (n = 206) vs R2: 12.7 months (n = 139; p < 0.0001. When stratified by PCI for the R0/R1 group, median OS for PCI less than 10, 10 to 15, and greater than 15 was 38.2, 19.7, and 22.2 m, respectively (p = 0.0007 comparing PCI less than 10 and greater than 15). Ten-year increments-1991 through 2000, 2001 through 2010, 2011 through 2020-revealed improvement in median OS (13.4 [n = 66], 19.3 [n = 139], and 29.1 months [n = 140]). However, by resection status, median OS remained stable for R0/R1 (32.3 [n = 23], 31.1 [n = 76], and 34.1 months [n = 107]) and improved for R2 (5.2 [n = 43], 14.4 [n = 63], and 14.6 months [n = 33]). Clavien-Dindo complication rate (greater than or equal to grade III) was 29.4%.

CONCLUSION

CRS improves outcomes for CRC-PC compared with historic outcomes with nonoperative management. This benefit is greatest with complete resection and lower disease burden. Results of CRS (with or without heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) are improving, and surgery for CRC-PC should be routinely considered.