Prophylactic therapy for peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer by continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion with mitomycin C

Abstract

Continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP) with a solution that contains mitomycin C (CHPP‐M) has been clinically introduced as a prophylactic treatment for peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer with serosal invasion. Two studies, each with a treated and a control group, were performed. In the historical control study the postoperative 3‐year survival rate of patients (73.7%) in the treated group (n = 38) was significantly higher than the survival rate (52.7%) of those in the control group (n = 55) (P < 0.04). In the random control study the survival rate (83%) of patients in the treated group (n = 26) was also higher than that (67.3%) of those in the control group (n = 21) in the 30 months that followed gastric surgery. However, there was no significant difference. In the historical control study with respect to the postoperative complications, anastomotic leak was observed in 8.5% of patients who were given CHPP‐M and 12.8% patients who did not have CHPP‐M. In the random control study anastomotic leak was observed in 3.1% of patients who had CHPP‐M and 7.1% of patients who did not have CHPP‐M. The incidence of adhesive ileus in patients having CHPP‐M did not increase in historical or random control groups. Postoperative prolonged intestinal paresis or chemical peritonitis were not induced by CHPP‐M. These results indicate that CHPP‐M is a simple, safe, and readily available prophylactic therapy for peritoneal recurrence that may follow gastric cancer surgery.