The Role of Perioperative Systemic Chemotherapy in Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of perioperative systemic chemotherapy (CT) on short-term surgical and long-term oncologic results in diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) patients treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). We retrospectively analyzed data obtained from an institutional prospective database at NCI of Milan. The study group comprised 116 DMPM patients treated with CRS + HIPEC from August 1995 to October 2011. A total of 60 cases underwent preoperative CT (PRECT), 30 underwent postoperative CT (POSTCT), and 26 did not undergo any CT (NOCT). Also, 55 cases used the perioperative combination of platinum and pemetrexed. We tested whether covariates related to clinical, histologic, PRECT, and surgical treatment were correlated with completeness of cytoreduction (CC), postoperative G3-5 morbidity, and progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Factors independently associated with CC were ECOG performance status (PF) of 0, and PCI < 20. Factors independently associated with postoperative G3-5 morbidity were ECOG > 1, bowel anastomosis, and number of peritonectomy procedures. Preoperative platelet count > 400 x 103/mm(3), histological subtype (biphasic and sarcomatoid vs epithelial), CC, and G3-5 morbidity were independent prognostic factors. PRECT was not associated with CC or G3-5 morbidity. There was no significant difference in terms of survival between the PRECT, POSTCT, and NOCT groups. The CC, G3-5, and OS were not influenced by aspects related to perioperative CT. The present data warrants confirmation reconducting the comparative analysis in a larger multi-institutional series preferably using matching control techniques.