Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) is an established therapy for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). However, the role of IPC is unclear. By ex vivo assessment of PMP tumor cell sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs, we investigated the basis for IPC drug selection and the role of IPC in the management of PMP. METHODS: Tumor cells were prepared by collagenase digestion of tumor tissue from 133 PMP patients planned for CRS and IPC. Tumor cell sensitivity to oxaliplatin, 5FU, mitomycin C, doxorubicin, irinotecan, and cisplatin was assessed in a 72-h cell-viability assay. Drug sensitivity was correlated to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Samples from 92 patients were analyzed successfully. Drug sensitivity varied considerably between samples. Peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis (PMCA), compared with PMCA intermediate or disseminated peritoneal adenomucinosis, was slightly more resistant to platinum and 5FU and tumor cells from patients previously treated with chemotherapy were generally less sensitive than those from untreated patients. Multivariate analysis showed patient performance status and completeness of CRS to be prognostic for OS. Among patients with complete CRS (n = 61), PFS tended to be associated with sensitivity to mitomycin C and cisplatin (p ≈ 0.06). At the highest drug concentration tested, the hazard ratio for disease relapse increased stepwise with drug resistance for all drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Ex vivo assessment of drug sensitivity in PMP provides prognostic information. The results suggest a role for IPC as therapeutic adjunct to CRS and for individualization of IPC by pretreatment assessment of drug sensitivity.