Dr. Mogal on the Role of Cytoreductive Surgery in Colorectal Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Harveshp D. Mogal, MD, MS, FACS, DABS, FSSO, physician, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, associate professor, Department of Surgery, University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, program director, Regional Cancer Therapies, UW Medicine, discusses the role of cytoreductive surgery in colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Although not all patients with colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis are amenable for cytoreductive surgery, well-selected patients can derive a significant benefit from the operation, Mogal says. Findings from the phase 3 PRODIGE 7 trial (NCT00769405) showed that although adding hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with oxaliplatin to cytoreductive surgery didn’t improve overall survival, complete cytoreductive surgery led to satisfactory survival outcomes when used as a curative intervention in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer.

As such, cytoreductive surgery is preferred compared with systemic chemotherapy alone in well-selected patients, Mogal explains. Patient selection should incorporate a discussion with the patient within a well-established and experienced cancer center that utilizes multidisciplinary tumor boards, Mogal concludes.