OBJECTIVES: To analyze the outcomes of cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC in 
patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer.
METHODS: Fifty-three patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from primary (45 
cases) and recurrent (8 cases) ovarian cancer were previously treated by 
systemic chemotherapy with platinum and taxanes and then submitted to surgical 
cytoreduction and HIPEC (cisplatin and mitomycin-C) with a closed abdomen 
technique. The median follow-up period was 27 months (range: 3-107).
RESULTS: At the end of operation a complete cytoreduction (CCR-0) was obtained 
in 37 patients (70%). Major morbidity occurred in 12 patients (23%); reoperation 
was necessary in 2 patients (4%), and no postoperative mortality was observed. 
Overall 5-year survival probability was 55%; it was 71% in CCR-0, 44% in CCR-1, 
and none in patients with CCR-2 or CCR-3 residual tumor (log-rank test: P = 
0.017). The cumulative risk of recurrence in 37 CCR-0 cases was 54% at 5 years 
from operation.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate the feasibility and the potential 
benefit of a protocol including systemic chemotherapy, surgical cytoreduction 
and HIPEC in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer. A 
phase III trial to compare this approach with conventional treatment is needed.