Background/aims: We investigated the histological and clinical effectiveness of continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP) for treating peritoneal dissemination (therapeutic CHPP) and for the prevention of peritoneal recurrence (prophylactic CHPP).
Methodology: In 5 patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal dissemination, the apoptosis index of the cancer cells on in situ end-labeling for detection of apoptotic cells was 3.0+/-1.2% before CHPP, and had increased to 52.9+/-8.3% after CHPP. The survival curve of the therapeutic CHPP group was significantly better than that of the control group. The therapeutic CHPP group was classified as miliary type or nodular type. The survival curve in the miliary type was significantly better than that in the nodular type.
Results: In prophylactic CHPP, there was no improvement in prognosis, but a prophylactic effect against peritoneal recurrence was demonstrated in the patients who were n4 negative when the mean intraperitoneal temperature during CHPP (MIT) was maintained above 42 degrees C.
Conclusions: These results indicated that an improved prognosis can be expected after therapeutic CHPP in patients with peritoneal spread. The beneficial effects are especially marked in patients with the miliary type. Moreover, prophylactic CHPP exerts a prophylactic effect against peritoneal recurrence in patients with n4 negative, providing that the MIT can be maintained above 42 degrees C.