Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion (IHCP) combined with intravenous chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.
Methods: Eighty-two patients with stage II - IV gastric cancer were postoperatively randomized into two groups; 46 patients in treatment group who received IHCP combined with intravenous chemotherapy for three times and 36 patients in control group who received intravenous chemotherapy only for six times. All patients in the two groups received the same chemo-regimen LFAP (CF + 5-Fu + THP or MIT + PDD) 21 - 28 days after operation.
Results: The 1-year survival rate was 98% (45/46) in the treatment group and 94% (34/36) in the control group without any significant difference (P > 0.05). The 3-year survival rate was 83% (38/46) in the treatment group and 61% (22/36) in the control group with significant difference (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal reaction in the treatment group was significantly decreased compared with in the control group (37% vs 80%, P < 0.01), whereas no statistically significant difference was noted in bone marrow suppression (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion combined with intravenous chemotherapy can prolong survival and reduce gastrointestinal side-effect which provides an effective treatment option for advanced gastric cancer.