Current Opinion on Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Treatment: a Survey of the Indian Society of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies (ISPSM)

Purpose Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) are increasingly treated with multidisciplinary combined approaches. The study aim was to assess current practice and perceptions of treatment modalities of PC. Methods Indian Society of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies (ISPSM) members were invited to complete an online survey. Current practice and perceptions of treatment modalities were assessed through 19 closed questions. Scores were assessed using a Likert scale (0: not important, 5: very important). Treatment modality satisfaction was assessed using a semantic scale (frustrated: 0, perfectly happy: 10). Participants were sent 3 reminders at 4-week intervals. Results Fifty-seven out of 182 members completed the survey (31%). Forty percent of participants had an experience of at least 10 years, and 75% stated treating less than 20 PC patients per year. Main treatment goals for patients with PC were cure (5/5) and symptom relief (4/5). Participant's satisfaction with treatment modalities for ovarian, colorectal, and gastric PC were 6/10, 5/10, and 2/10, respectively. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for ovarian (57%) and colorectal (44%) origins were considered to be useful. Clinical usefulness of chemotherapy for gastric PC was rated to be low (17%). Conclusions Current treatment modalities fall short to satisfy the needs (cure, symptom relief) of patients with PC. Alternative systemic and intraperitoneal treatment modalities should be assessed.

Automated summary

The study found that current treatment modalities for peritoneal carcinomatosis do not meet the needs of patients in terms of cure and symptom relief. Participants showed varying levels of satisfaction with treatment modalities for ovarian, colorectal, and gastric PC, suggesting the need to assess alternative systemic and intraperitoneal treatment methods.