Short-term oxaliplatin exposure according to established hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) protocols lacks effectivenessin vitroandex vivo
Authors: Löffler Markus W. , Seyfried Nick , Burkard Markus , Oswald Benedikt , Tolios Alexander , Yurttas Can , Herster Franziska , Kauer Joseph , Jäger Tarkan , Thiel Karolin , Haen Sebastian P. , Rammensee Hans-Georg , Venturelli Sascha , Schwab Matthias , Königsrainer Alfred , Beckert Stefan 
Published: August 2019

Cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin-containing solutions (OCS), sampled during patient treatment with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), was assessed by well-established continuous impedance-based real-time cell analysis (RTCA)ex vivo. HIPEC treatment was replicated by exposing OAW-42 cancer cells to OCS for 30 or 60 minutes at 42 °C. In contrast to previous observations with continuous exposure, where cytotoxicity was proven, identical OCS obtained during HIPEC did not induce cell death reproducibly and showed strongly attenuated effects after only 30 minutes of application. Based on these unexpected findings, spike-ins of oxaliplatin (OX) into peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) or dextrose 5 % in water (D5W) were used to replicate HIPEC conditions, as used in either our own protocols or the recently presented randomized controlled PRODIGE 7 trial, where OX HIPEC for 30 minutes failed to produce survival benefits in colorectal carcinoma patients. With OX-spiked into D5W or PDS at identical concentrations as used for PRODIGE 7 or conforming with own HIPEC protocols, we did not observe the expectable cytotoxic effects in RTCA, after replicating OX HIPEC for 30 minutes. These results were corroborated for both solvents at relevant drug concentrations by classical end-point assays for cytotoxicity in two cancer cell lines. Further results suggest that penetration depth, drug dosage, exposure time and drug solvents may constitute critical factors for HIPEC effectiveness. Accordingly, we witnessed substantial cell shrinkage with both PDS and D5W, potentially contributing to reduced drug effects. Based on these results, intensified pharmacological research seems warranted to establish effective HIPEC protocols.

Key Points

Oxaliplatin (OX)-containing solutions obtained during patient treatment with Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) unexpectedly showed low cytotoxicity in an impedance-basedex vivocytotoxicity cell assay.

OX cytotoxicity under HIPEC conditions could be enhanced by extending drug exposure to one hour by an impedance-basedex vivocytotoxicity cell assay.

HIPEC failed to show survival benefits in the randomized controlled PRODIGE 7 trial and was questioned in the aftermath.

Clinically relevant OX concentrations applied in conjunction with hyperthermia (42 °C) for 30 minutes, as used either at our own medical center or according to the PRODIGE 7 trial, proved predominantly ineffective, when used according to HIPEC routines in an impedance-basedin vitrocytotoxicity cell assay.

Respective findings were corroborated in two different cell lines and by two established end-point assays, showing that 50 % cell death could not be reached by the same HIPEC treatment with OX, in contrast to continuous drug exposure.

As potentially relevant factor, the thickness of the exposed cell layer was identified, requiring at least ~100 µm penetration depth for our model to indicate effectiveness.

Additionally, we show relevant cell shrinkage by two drug diluents used either at our own medical center or according to the PRODIGE 7 trial, potentially associated with fluid shifts out of the cell and impaired drug effects.

Our own as well as recent findings by Ubinket al.(Br J Surg. 2019. doi: 10.1002/bjs.11206) support the notion that lacking effectiveness of OX HIPEC may explain the negative PRODIGE 7 trial results.