OBJECTIVES: To assess feasibility, complications and efficacy of secondary 
surgical cytoreduction (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy 
(HIPEC) in a selected group of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer 
patients.
METHODS: Recurrent ovarian cancer patients with a platinum-free interval of at 
least 6 months were prospectively enrolled. After complete CRS they were 
submitted to intraperitoneal perfusion of oxaplatinum (460 mg/m(2)) heated to 
41.5 degrees C for 30 min. Then they received systemic chemotherapy with 
taxotere 75 mg/m(2) and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m(2) for 6 cycles. Patients were 
followed up routinely until recurrence or death.
RESULTS: Twenty-five recurrent ovarian cancer patients were valuable for the 
study. The median Platinum Free Interval (PFI) was 25 months (range 7-67). The 
majority of the patients (76%) had diffuse carcinosis. Nobody had ascites. An 
optimal residual disease was obtained in all patients. The median duration of 
CRS+HIPEC was 312 min (range 138-619). Median intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 
2 days (1-6), median hospital stay was 13 days (7-30). Post-operative major 
complications were observed in 7 patients (28%). Post-operative mortality was 
0%. With a median follow-up time of 18 months (range 3-38), 24 patients (96%) 
are alive, but seven women (28%) have relapsed.
CONCLUSIONS: Adequate pre-operative selection can improve feasibility of CRS and 
HIPEC. Morbidity rate is comparable to aggressive cytoreduction without HIPEC. 
Although associated with some post-operative morbidity, long-term results are 
encouraging, waiting for larger series and longer follow-up data.