Surgical Choices: Hyperthermic Chemotherapy

Hyperthermic chemoperfusion (chemotherapy) is a procedure in which a warmed solution containing anticancer drugs is used to bathe, or is passed through the blood vessels of, the tissue or organ containing the tumor.

In the case of tumors located in the intraperitoneal or intra-abdominal region, the patient undergoes debulking surgery followed by heating the chemicals and bathing the abdominal area directly.

Also known as intra-abdominal hyperthermic chemoperfusion, aka Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC).

Additional Information

S Van Ruth, MD, et al, "Cytoreductive Surgery Combined with Intraoperative Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy for Stage I Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma" Annals of Surgical Oncology 10:176-182 2003 (Posted 5/21/04)

Conclusions: Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy for stage I MPM is feasible. However, this treatment is accompanied by considerable morbidity. Survival data were less encouraging. More...

Eelco de Bree, MD, et al, "Cytoreductive Surgery and Intraoperative Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma or Pleural Metastases of Thymoma" Chest; 2002; 121:480-487 (Posted 5/21/04

Conclusions: Cytoreductive surgery and HITHOC with cisplatin and adriamycin is feasible in patients with pleural thymoma metastases and early-stage MPM, and is associated with acceptable morbidity rates. Early data on locoregional disease control are encouraging, and a phase II study will be conducted. More...

R. McQuellon, et al, "Long-Term Survivorship and Quality of Life after Cytoreductive Surgery Plus Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis" Annals of Surgical Oncology, 10(2):155-162, 2003 (9/29/04

Conclusion: Long-term survival with good quality of life is possible for selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis after cytoredective surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy. More...

Treatment and Prevention of Malignant Ascites Associated with Disseminated Intraperitoneal Malignancies by Aggressive Combined-Modality Therapy (9/29/04)

No satisfactory treatment exists to treat or prevent malignant ascites secondary to nonovarian intraperitoneal (IP) disseminated malignancies. A Phast I/II clinical trial combining radical cytoreductive surgery and IP hyperthermic chemotherapy with mitomycin is presented. More...

Intraperitoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC) for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis and Malignant Ascites. Creighton University Medical Center (CUMU) Cancer Center (9/29/04)

A major difficulty in treating patients with cancer tht has seeded widely on lining surfaces in the stomach cavity (abdomen, peritoneal cavity) is that it is often not possibly to remove all teh cancer cells. As a result the cancer often persists despite surgical and other treatments. More...

ASCO Reports on Intracavitary Hyperthermic Chemo, FDG-PET Scan Prognostication, and Alimta/Cisplatin Quality of Life (6/12/03)

Summary: Dr. Vogelzang: Based on the data from these studies and from what was presented in the poster sessions, we've learned a number of things. Chemotherapy now has an established role in the treatment of mesothelioma. Almost everyone, even if they're surgical candidates, should get chemotherapy. More...