Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer: State of the art

Advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC) is diffi cult to treat with low overall cure rates. A new strategy combining maximal cytoreductive surgery(CRS) with intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC) has been proposed to treat advanced stage EOC in the primary setting. Numerous small, heterogeneous studies have been conducted exploring outcomes in patients with predominantly advanced, recurrent or refractory disease treated with CRS + HIPEC. Although morbidity rates approaching 35% have been reported, oncologic outcomes are promising. Incorporation of HIPEC for the treatment of primary EOC has continued to gain interest. Several prospective phase 2 clinical trials were recently completed evaluating the impact of CRS + HIPEC in the primary setting. This article will briefl y discuss the benefi ts of optimal surgical cytoreduction and the theoretical basis of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in patients with advanced stage EOC, and will then review existing literature describing oncologic outcomes in EOC patients treated with HIPEC in the primary setting.