Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for primary or recurrent adrenocortical carcinoma. A single center study

Background. This study explores the impact of Hypertermic Intra PEritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) on adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) management through a safety analysis completed by a preliminary evaluation of survival performances. Methods. Retrospective chart review of 27 patients submitted to surgical treatment completed by HIPEC for primary (SP, 13 patients) or recurrent (SR, 14 patients, 17 treatments) ACC. Safety was evaluated by means of procedural morbidity and mortality. Survival performances included multiple end points: local/peritoneal disease-free survival (l/pDFS), overall progression-free survival (OPFS), and overall survival (OS). Results. In the SP group, mortality was nil and morbidity was 46% (major 23%). At a median follow-up of 25 months, the median value for all the different survival measures had not been reached. Mortality was also nil in the SR group. However, morbidity was 77% (major 18%). Median l/pDFS and OPFS were 12 ± 4 and 8 ± 2 months, respectively. At a median follow-up of 30 months, median OS had not been reached. Conclusion. Surgery and HIPEC is an invasive procedure. Its employment in the surgery for primary setting deserves attention as it may affect oncologic outcomes positively. Its value in the management of recurrences seems less appreciable, albeit it may find its place in the multimodal management of a rare disease for which multiple therapeutic options do not yet exist.