Ovarian Cancer : the heat increases the efficacy of chemotherapy and enhances the survival of the sick

lisafx/epictura

Published the 18.01.2018 at 12: 43

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Keywords :

cancer of the ovairechimiothérapiechaleur

Generally, women with ovarian cancer to an advanced stage (stage III) have a surgery to cytoreduction and chemotherapy injected into the vein. The surgical cytoreduction is to reduce the volume of a tumor.
In a study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers have tested the interest of a chemotherapy hyperthermic intraperitoneal (CHIP) to this standard treatment. And the results are positive.

Chemotherapy hyperthermic intraperitoneal, what is it ?

The CHIP combines chemotherapy and surgery. Once the surgeon has removed all the tumor visible to the naked eye, the chemotherapy drugs are diluted in a liquid and heated to 42°C for one hour.
Then, the chemotherapy is introduced into the cavity intraperitoneally for ten minutes, where it will be in contact with the ovaries and their location, before being sucked in by a pump.
Why heat treatment ? Because this increases its effects on cancerous tissue.

More chance of survival

245 patients have participated in the study and they have all had the conventional treatment combining surgery and chemotherapy through the vein. 123 of them have not received chemotherapy hyperthermic intraperitoneal in addition to the standard treatment. Outcome : recurrences or deaths occurred in 110 of them. Among those who received chemotherapy hyperthermic intraperitoneal, 99 cases of recurrence or death (out of 122) have been recognized. There is a reduction of the mortality of a third party with a follow-up of 4.7 years.

In women with an ovarian cancer at an advanced stage, combine surgical cytoreduction and chemotherapy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal thus increase the chances of survival and decrease recurrence, without any increase in side effects.