Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is way of delivering chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity – the space between the abdominal organs and the abdominal muscle. The abdominal cavity is the most common place that ovarian cancer will spread to.
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivers a more concentrated dose of drugs directly to this site.The chemotherapy drugs are mixed with fluid and given through a tube ( catheter) that can be inserted at the time of the surgery and is connected to a reservoir that sits beneath the skin over the lower ribs. The catheter will need to be removed with an operation at the completion of the course of chemotherapy.
Does intraperitoneal chemotherapy replace intravenous chemotherapy?
No. In most cases intraperitoneal chemotherapy will be used at the same time as intravenous (IV chemotherapy.What are the side effects of intraperitoneal chemotherapy?
Side effects related to the use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy are:- pain from filling the abdominal cavity with fluid
- infection in the abdominal cavity or in the implanted catheter
- bowel obstruction or perforation of the bowel by the catheter tubing
- nausea and vomiting due to the chemotherapy drug used in the treatment.
Some women are unable to continue using intraperitoneal chemotherapy due to the side effects. Clinical trials are underway in Australia looking at ways of reducing side effects and improving quality of life for women receiving intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Is intraperitoneal chemotherapy suitable for every woman with ovarian cancer?
Clinical trials have shown that intraperitoneal chemotherapy is suitable for women with stage III ovarian cancer, with less than 1 cm of tumour remaining at the end of surgery and with minimal adhesions in the abdomen. This is called optimal cytoreduction.There’s no evidence that having intraperitoneal chemotherapy will benefit women with early ovarian cancer (stage I or II) or stage IV ovarian cancer. There’s no evidence that intraperitoneal chemotherapy is useful treatment for women whose ovarian cancer has come back after treatment.
