Abstract
Background: Surgical cytoreduction and simultaneous hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a common treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis. During intraperitoneal chemotherapy, mitomycin C is frequently used. Mitomycin C is known to be nephrotoxic. Little is known about the effect of systemically absorbed mitomycin C on renal function during HIPEC surgery.
Methods: In twenty-two patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC for peritoneal carcinomatosis the systemic levels of mitomycin C were measured in plasma. The relation of plasma levels of mitomycin C with duration of surgery and complexity of surgery was evaluated.
Furthermore, we evaluated the relation between systemic mitomycin C levels with renal function.
Results Two patients of the total of 22 patients developed acute kidney injury. In these patients, preoperative creatinine level increased from (1) 109 μmol/L to maximum 890 μmol/L on the 6th postoperative day after which renal replacement therapy was started and (2) from 67 μmol/L to 213 μmol/L. Whereas maximum plasma levels of mitomycin C in these 2 patients were 145 μg/L and 280 μg/L compared to the levels in the other patients (167 μg/L ±80.8). Peak levels of plasma creatinine were on post operative day 2. None of the other patients needed renal replacement therapy. Eight patients showed significant increase of plasma creatinine levels, i.e. >20% increase from preoperative values. We did not observe a correlation between complexity of surgery, increased absorption of mitomycin C, higher mitomycin C plasma levels and signs of kidney injury.
Conclusions: Systemic absorption of mitomycin C during HIPEC surgery is independent to extension of cytoreductive surgery and duration of surgery. In this small study group, we observed an impairment of renal function which may be related to systemic absorption of mitomycin C. Further research is warranted to answer possible association of mitomycin C levels in patients at risk for development of AKI.