Data on the quality of life after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal malignancies: does it concern patients with gastric cancer?

Introduction. So far there are no reports devoted exclusively to the quality of life after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in metastatic gastric cancer. Current literature concerning this issue was, thus, reviewed in order to: 1) search for such data concerning metastatic gastric cancer; 2) assess if the latest reviews evenly pertain to all peritoneal surface malignancies; and 3) conclude if they are a reliable source of data for patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods. The electronic PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were retrieved for studies concerning the influence of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy on quality of life in patients with metastatic gastric cancer and regardless of initial diagnosis. The data on the number of patients with particular tumours were analysed and the results were presented in the form of a table.

Results. Approximately half of all patients encompassed by the reviews had a form of primary peritoneal surface malignancies. Within peritoneal metastases, the most numerous were colorectal (21-24%) and ovarian cancers (5-15%). Gastric cancers and sarcomas were the smallest defined subgroups (4% each).

Conclusions. The promising outcomes in quality of life after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in primary peritoneal surface malignancies might differ from rarely reported ones in metastatic gastric cancer. The problem needs further, gastric cancer-devoted investigations.