Is intraperitoneal chemotherapy beneficial in pancreatic cancer?

Abstract

The role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy has been widely investigated in locally advanced malignancies which serosal involvement as well as in cases in which disseminated peritoneal nodules are present. However, its benefits have been widely contested by the higher rates of perioperative complications and therefore, the guidelines did not include it as part of standard therapy. Meanwhile, the better control of the intraperitoneal spread which has been demonstrated in certain cases enabled surgeons to propose performing intraperitoneal chemotherapy in particularly aggressive malignancies such as pancreatic cancer. The aim of the current paper is to discuss about the efficacy and the preliminary results of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer.

Keywords

• pancreatic cancer
• intraperitoneal chemotherapy
• local control
• survival