An innovative treatment called Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is now available for some cancer patients at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. This option can be beneficial for patients with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers.
HIPEC involves two procedures: cytoreductive surgery to remove visible tumors in the abdomen under anesthesia, followed by heated chemotherapy infusion directly into the abdominal cavity for 90 minutes.
"This allows for high local drug concentrations, improved tissue penetration and potential eradication of microscopic residual disease," said Kellie Rath, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with OhioHealth.
The direct contact between chemotherapy and tumor cells in the abdomen is emphasized. "The normal side effects that people feel like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, peripheral neuropathy (or tingly numbness in the fingers and toes), are not a side effect of this process," explained David Arrese, MD, a complex surgical oncologist with OhioHealth.
Initially developed to treat pseudomyxoma, a rare appendiceal tumor, HIPEC has also been used for advanced-stage colon and gastric cancers. There is now growing evidence supporting its use in treating stage 3 epithelial ovarian cancer.
"As we continue to advance gynecologic oncology care at OhioHealth, surgical strategies like HIPEC exemplify the importance of integrating innovation with evidence-based practice," Dr. Rath added.