Advanced Treatments for Peritoneal Cancer at the Peritoneal Cancer Institute
The treatment of peritoneal cancer is complex and requires a highly specialized therapeutic approach. For this reason, only a limited number of physicians worldwide perform these procedures. At the Peritoneal Cancer Institute (PCI), a global leader in the field, we offer innovative treatment options tailored to each patient’s individual needs, with the goal of improving both prognosis and quality of life.
Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with HIPEC
The combination of Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is currently the only potentially curative treatment for peritoneal metastases and their primary tumor origin. At PCI, our experts have extensive experience in multidisciplinary management and treatments of these complex cases.
● What is CRS?
CRS is a surgical procedure aimed at removing all visible tumor tissue within the abdominal cavity, including affected organs or parts of organs. It requires a highly specialized surgical team to ensure the removal of as many cancer cells as possible while preserving organ function.
● How does HIPEC work?
Following surgery, a heated chemotherapy solution is administered directly into the abdominal cavity. The elevated temperature enhances the effectiveness of the drugs by opening cellular pores, allowing deeper penetration of the chemotherapeutic agents and facilitating the destruction of residual tumor cells that cannot be seen or removed during the operation.
● Main Benefits:
- High concentration of chemotherapy at the site of disease.
- Reduced risk of local recurrence.
- Improved disease-control rates and outcomes for patients.
Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC)
PIPAC (Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy) is a minimally invasive technique designed to deliver chemotherapy directly into the abdomen in aerosol form. It is particularly beneficial for patients in whom radical surgery is not initially possible, serving as a complementary therapy to other treatments or as a bridge therapy to CRS + HIPEC.
● How does PIPAC work?
Through a laparoscopic procedure, a device is introduced into the abdominal cavity to administer chemotherapy as a pressurized aerosol. This allows for uniform distribution of the drug and improved penetration into tumor tissues, even in areas that are difficult to access.
● Main Benefits:
- Minimally invasive procedure with fast recovery.
- Can be repeated multiple times according to the patient’s condition.
- Low systemic toxicity compared to intravenous chemotherapy.
Systemic Oncological Treatments
In addition to procedures such as CRS + HIPEC and PIPAC, most patients benefit from systemic therapies, which act throughout the body and can be used as neoadjuvant treatment (before surgery) or adjuvant treatment (after surgery) depending on the individual case.
● These therapies may include:
- Traditional intravenous chemotherapy.
- Biological agents.
- Immunotherapy, which stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells.
● How are they used?
- Before surgery, to reduce tumor volume.
- After surgery, as an additional therapy.
- As palliative treatment when surgery is not feasible.
● Main Benefits:
- Act on both visible and microscopic disease.
- Can be adapted to each tumor type and clinical situation.
- Allow integration of different therapeutic strategies within a single treatment plan.
Conclusion
The treatment of peritoneal cancer demands a comprehensive and highly specialized approach. At the Peritoneal Cancer Institute, our multidisciplinary team evaluates each case individually to design the most effective therapeutic plan, combining medical innovation with personalized and compassionate care. Proper clinical assessment and timely surgical intervention have a significant impact on both survival and quality of life. For this reason, it is essential that patients affected by this serious condition are referred promptly to specialized centers such as PCI for an initial evaluation and early treatment.
Thank to advanced techniques such as CRS + HIPEC, PIPAC and systemic therapies, we provide strategies that enhance disease control and improve the quality of life for our patients.