Phase 3 Trial Evaluating Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Upfront Treatment of Stage IIIC Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Aim of the Study is to compare two-years disease-free survival of Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic IntraPEritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC, CDDP+Paclitaxel) vs CRS alone in Stage IIIC unresectable epithelial tubal/ovarian cancer with partial or complete response after 3 cycles of 1st line chemotherapy (CBDCA +Paclitaxel).

Eligible: Female adult women (18 to 70 years old) patients, with epithelial ovarian/tubal (FIGO stage IIIC) with a Fagotti modified Laparoscopic Scoring System ≥ 4 who will show a complete or partial clinical response(RECIST 1.1) after 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Carboplatin+Paclitaxel).

Duration of recruitment: 2 years. Sample size has been calculated to reach a confidence level of 95% with a power of 80%, considering a 45% and 75% disease-free survival at 2 years in CRS and CRS+HIPEC group respectively.

Sample size will be 47 patients for each group. After CRS, only patients with adequate cytoreduction (CC 0-1, residual tumor ≤ 2.5mm) will be randomized. Patients with suboptimal cytoreduction (CC 2-3, residual tumor \> 2.5mm) are not suitable for randomization.

The drug schedule elected in the current study is Cisplatin (CDDP) (100 mg/m2 of body surface area) + Paclitaxel (175mg/m2 of body surface area).

Closed/open technique, as preferred. Duration: 90 minutes. Mean Intra-abdominal Temperature: 42°C. Primary Endpoint: 2-years disease-free survival.

Secondary Endpoints:

1-year, 3- and 5-years disease-free survival;

1 month, 1-year, 3- and 5-years overall survival; toxicity induced by HIPEC using the NCI CTC criteria; one month and six months morbidity; duration of operation; return of bowel function; length of hospital stay; return to normal activity; six months and one year QOL, using the SF-36 v1.0; percentage of patients in both arms completing the scheduled postoperative chemotherapy; Subgroup analysis: PCI ≤ 15; pts. ≤ 40yrs.

Main topics of this Study:

Focused only on upfront treatment of primary disease. Select platinum-sensible patients (responders to platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy).

Take advantage of NACT to maximize chances for cytoreduction. Standardized strategy for CRS: radical surgery, associated to any surgical procedure needed to obtain a zero or ≤ 0.25cm residual tumor (peritonectomy, bowel resection, diaphragmatic stripping, gastric resection, etc.). Pelvic and peri-aortic lymphadenectomy is not chosen as standard procedure, but should warrant adequate staging.

Compare only the effect of HIPEC.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Female adult women (18 to 70 years old) patients, with EOC (FIGO stage IIIc) with a Fagotti modified Laparoscopic Scoring System ≥ 4 who will show a complete clinical response (cCR) or partial clinical response (cPR) after 3 cycles (Carboplatin+Paclitaxel) of neoadjuvant chemotherapy;
* performance status (ECOG) 0, 1 or 2;
* signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* refusing to sign an informed consent;
* age \> 70 years and age \<18 years;
* BMI \> 35;
* impossibility of an adequate follow-up;
* presence of other active neoplasms;
* active infection or other concurrent medical condition that could interfere in the ability of patients to receive the proposed treatment according to protocol;
* extraabdominal metastases (Stage IV) ;
* performance status (ECOG)\>2;
* complete bowel obstruction;
* Abnormal bone marrow indices or renal and liver function;
* ASA IV or V.