HIPEC Treatment for Abdominal Cancer

Overview

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a highly concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment that is delivered directly to the abdomen during surgery. The procedure treats tumors in the abdominal (peritoneal) lining that stem from colon, gastric, ovarian, appendix tumors, mesothelioma and other cancers.

Unlike systemic chemotherapy delivery, HIPEC delivers chemotherapy directly to cancer cells in the abdomen. This allows for higher doses of chemotherapy treatment. Heating the solution may also improve the absorption of chemotherapy drugs and destroy the miscroscopic cancer cells that can remain the abdomen after surgery. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and lasts for about 6-9 hours depending on its complexity.

HIPEC is a novel technique in which those abdominal malignancies are treated which were previously thought to be untreatable and were only offered palliative care. The indication of HIPEC is therefore very specific and it is meant for those cancer cases of abdomen in which the disease has spread only inside the abdomen and not through the blood or lymphatic. In these patients, the cancer is seen in the form of sand like particles over the inner layer of the abdominal cavity called as the peritoneal sheath. Such type of spread is usually seen in the following cancers:

Primary peritoneal cancer
Ovarian cancer
Appendicular cancer
Pseudomyxoma peritonei.
Colorectal malignancy
Some of Pancreatic and Gastric cancers.

Before the patients receive HIPEC treatment, our experts perform cytoreductive surgery to remove visible tumors within the abdomen. Once all the tumors are removed, the heated, sterilized chemotherapy solution (with a temperature between 41-43 degrees celsius) is delivered to the abdomen for approximately 1 ½ hours to penetrate and destroy remaining cancer cells. Thereafter, the solution is drained from the abdomen and incision is closed.

Improves chemotherapy absorption and susceptibility of cancer cells
Allows for high doses of chemotherapy
Enhances and concentrates chemotherapy in abdominal cavity locally
Reduces certain systemic side effects of chemotherapy
Overall has potential betterment of survival

Our centers offer cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC treatment for advanced stage abdominal cancers, including appendiceal (appendix) cancer, colorectal cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, ovarian and stomach cancer. Our experts offer a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan to the patients to improve their quality of life.

There are few types of cancers that are difficult to treat, particularly the ones located in the abdominal cavity. These cancers do not get killed with intravenous chemotherapy as with intraperitoneal chemotherapy. HIPEC experts say that the heat makes the chemotherapy more powerful in killing these cancer cells. Hence, we are equipped with a state of art of HIPEC machine that delivers temperature at a constant temperature.