This is an open-label, multicenter, single-arm, feasibility phase 2 trial on safety and efficacy of short-course regimen of intra-operative Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) at the time of fast-track interval debulking surgery (IDS) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for high tumor burden epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

This study was initially designed to explore the safety and efficacy of short-course HIPEC in terms of median progression-free survival (PFS) as the primary outcome. However, due to slow accrual, the design was subsequently amended to explore the primary outcome measure of PD9 (i.e.: proportion of patients with disease progression or death occurring within 9 months of IDS plus HIPEC). The hypothesis was the short-course HIPEC could decrease PD9 with low rates of morbidity and mortality. In these settings, we explore a comprehensive treatment approach involving fast-track advanced cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus short-course HIPEC at the time of IDS following NACT for high tumor burden patients with stage III-IV ovarian cancer. Advanced CRS was performed with standard peritonectomy procedures and visceral resections directed towards complete elimination of tumors from the abdominopelvic cavity, and fast-track recovery strategies were also applied to improve patient outcomes. HIPEC was performed according to the closed-abdomen technique using CDDP (25 mg/L of perfusate/m2, total limit of 240mg) or CDDP plus Doxorubicin (15mg/L) for 30 minutes, with an intra-abdominal target temperature of 41-43°C. Perfusate (2L/m2, ranging from 4L to 6L) was circulated using an extracorporeal circulation device (Performer HT; RAND, Medolla, Italy) at a flow rate of 700 ml/min. Systemic chemotherapy included the standard combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel as neo-adjuvant plus adjuvant regimens.

• Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with no previous treatment and candidates for elective surgery with histological diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma;
  • Clinical stage IIIB to IV, without suspicion of extra-abdominal metastasis;
  • No other malignancies in activity;
  • No previous treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy (except neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the study protocol) or major abdominal surgery;
  • Absence of neuro-psychiatric disorders, history of drug allergies, and pregnancy or breast feeding;
  • Aged between 18 and 70 years;
  • Performance status 0-2 (ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) and / or greater than 70 points by the Karnofsky scale;
  • Appropriated cardio-respiratory, hepato-renal and hematological reserves;
  • Signing of the Consent Form.

• Exclusion Criteria:

  • Evidence of extensive retroperitoneal lymph node involvement or unresectable disease (i.e., massive involvement of the small bowel, mesentery, or hepatic pedicle, and ureteral or biliary obstruction) at the time of CRS/HIPEC;
  • Residual disease after the CRS greater than or equal to 2.5 mm (CC-2 and CC-3);
  • Limiting obesity for CRS or HIPEC;
  • Disease progression, apparent or confirmed uncontrolled infection, or health impairment during NACT.

We have no plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available to other researchers.