Second-look surgery plus oxaliplatin hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is no better than surveillance at prolonging disease-free survival for patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases, a study shows.

The trial at 23 French sites included 150 patients with one of: a primary colorectal cancer and localised peritoneal metastases removed during tumour resection; a perforated tumour; or resected ovarian metastases.

After six months of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy without signs of cancer recurrence, patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either surveillance under French guidelines or second-look surgery plus HIPEC.

In the treatment arm, surgery consisted of a complete exploration of the abdominal cavity via xyphopubic incision, and resection of all peritoneal implants if resectable, while HIPEC was either oxaliplatin or mitomycin-based if neuropathy was present.