A Search for New Biomarkers in Peritoneal Surface Malignancies of Different Origin Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC

Background: There are many evidences suggesting a major role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in promoting cancer development and aggressiveness. This biological process converts static epithelial cells in migratory and microenvironment-interacting mesenchymal cells. EMT is also implicated in the modulation of proteins linked to stemness and aggressiveness of tumor cells. So far the relevance of factors linked to EMT and regulated by this process in peritoneal surface malignances (PSM) has not been fully elucidated. In this pilot study, the expression of EMT-related and -regulated genes was measured in surgical specimen derived from patients affected by PSM of different origin treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hypertermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), to look for mesenchymal marker(s) preferentially expressed in specific tumor histotypes and potentially linked to biological behavior.