Journal of Clinical Medicine · 3 authors, 1 centre
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This narrative review examines pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy (PIPAC) as a minimally invasive treatment for peritoneal metastases from gastrointestinal cancers. The central result is that PIPAC may improve drug distribution and tissue penetration, potentially converting some patients to resectable disease and increasing survival without major morbidity, as indicated by many small studies.
This narrative review discusses the rationale, benefits, and clinical application of PIPAC for peritoneal metastases from gastrointestinal malignancies. It compares PIPAC to other intraperitoneal therapies like HIPEC and NIPEC, noting PIPAC's shorter procedure time, lower drug concentration, and potential for outpatient or serial use. Clinical data from small, mostly European studies show that PIPAC, often with cisplatin and doxorubicin, can stabilize or decrease malignant ascites and may lead to prolonged survival with improved quality of life. Reported major complication rates vary widely. The review highlights that PIPAC is primarily studied in patients not candidates for cytoreductive surgery/HIPEC, with some evidence of conversion to resectable disease in a small subset. Implications suggest PIPAC is a promising palliative and potential neoadjuvant option requiring further research.
