Introduction: Cytoreduction with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has demonstrated improved overall survival (OS) in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). The role of repeated HIPEC for MPM is less clear.
Methods: An institutional review board-approved database of MPM patients was analyzed for clinical factors and outcomes.
Results: From June 2004 to March 2012, 29 patients underwent surgical treatment for mesothelioma. HIPEC was aborted in 3 and completed in 26; 8 underwent additional repeat HIPEC. The majority was male (62 %), median age 66 years. There was no significant difference in surgery duration, blood loss, or hospital-stay-duration between initial and repeat HIPEC. Cisplatin was the chemotherapy used. Complications occurred in 17 (65 %) initial and 6 (50 %) repeat HIPEC, with wound complications being most common. Reoperation was less common (4 % initial and 25 % repeat), and perioperative death was rare (4 % initial, 0 % repeat). Fourteen (54 %) initial and seven (58 %) repeat HIPEC patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median time from HIPEC to initiation of chemotherapy was not different between initial and repeat HIPEC (8.8 and 4.6 months, respectively, p = 0.68). Median treatment-free time (time from initial to repeat HIPEC or chemotherapy) also was not different between initial and repeat HIPEC (8.8 and 6.3 months, respectively, p = 0.92). Median OS for the cohort was 41.2 months. Patients who underwent repeat HIPEC had improved median OS (80 months) versus single HIPEC (27.2 months; p = 0.007). A lower peritoneal carcinoma index and complete cytoreduction were associated positively with OS.
Conclusions: Cytoreduction and HIPEC for MPM are associated with longer OS. Patients who are candidates for repeat HIPEC may derive an even greater OS advantage.