Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: Defining Novel Treatments for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is one of the most deadly and challenging complications of advanced GC and many other cancers. PC is present in more than 30% of GCs at diagnosis, and the peritoneum is also the most frequent site of metastasis and recurrence after treatment. The incidence of PC is increasing, and its prognosis is worse compared to other sites of metastasis. PC is associated with diffuse histology and the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) molecular subtype of GC. Diffuse GC is common in Asians, and the EMT subtype that is dominant in Singapore is also associated with a lack of targetable oncogenic drivers. Furthermore, the symptoms associated with PC are often intractable to medical treatment and significantly affect patient’s quality of life. Current treatment for PC is palliative systemic chemotherapy. However, the response is poor due to chemo-resistance and poor tolerability of treatment. Therefor, PC from GC is a key area of unmet need worldwide, and in Singapore. Approaches to achieve a better understanding and better treatment for this deadly disease is therefore required.