Barcelona hosts the world’s largest congress on peritoneal cancer

• It is estimated that this disease affects seven people per million inhabitants and accounts for 10% of pelvic cancers.
• Surgeon Domenico Sabia, director of the Peritoneal Cancer Institute (Teknon Medical Centre in Barcelona), uses two groundbreaking techniques to improve patients’ quality of life.
• The 15th edition of the PSOGI International Congress on Peritoneal Surface Malignancies will take place from October 29 to 31.

From October 29 to 31, 2025, Fira de Barcelona will host the world’s leading experts in colorectal cancer during the 15th edition of the PSOGI International Congress on Peritoneal Surface Malignancies. This edition is coordinated by the team led by specialist Domenico Sabia, director of the Peritoneal Cancer Institute (PCI), part of Teknon Medical Center in Barcelona. In addition, on October 28, a workshop will be held at Hospital de Sant Joan Despí Moisès Broggi, moderated by Paul Sugarbaker and Lana Bijelic, co-director of the Peritoneal Cancer Institute.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis, a rare disease affecting seven out of every million people, is a specific form of metastasis from digestive tract tumors (such as those of the pancreas, colon, or stomach, among others), as well as from gynecological tumors (such as ovarian or fallopian tube cancer). In these cases, the tumors are secondary, although they can also originate in the peritoneum itself, as is the case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

In Spain, around 7.000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The incidence varies depending on the primary tumor from which it originates. Approximately 15% of patients with colon cancer develop peritoneal carcinomatosis, but the risk is much higher for ovarian cancer patients (around 67%). Another cancer with a high risk of recurrence is appendiceal cancer (about 50%). Thanks to medical advances and new surgical techniques, survival rates have improved significantly, reaching 70%.

The symptoms of this disease are very nonspecific, such as abdominal distension, discomfort or difficulty digesting, so it is usually detected at an advanced stage, making treatment more complex. For this reason, experts are focusing on developing new treatments that can extend patients’ lives.

“At the Peritoneal Cancer Institute, we use the latest medical advances to treat patients suffering from peritoneal cancer. Thanks to the personalized study of each case and the innovative techniques we apply, we are able to increase our patients’ chances of survival”, says Domenico Sabia.

PIONEERING TECHNIQUES THAT SAVE LIVES

The team led by surgeon Domenico Sabia in Barcelona specializes in two groundbreaking techniques: cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC and pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). Sabia emphasizes the importance of personalizing each treatment: “In our team of surgeons, we work with complex cases. Each procedure is designed down to the smallest detail to adapt to the medical needs of each patient and achieve the best possible outcomes”.

Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with HIPEC

This technique combines surgical intervention to remove tumors and metastases with the application of chemotherapy to treat metastasis in the peritoneum. After the surgery, while still in the operating room, doctors circulate heated liquid chemotherapy drugs within the abdominal cavity for 60-90 minutes. The procedure, known as HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy), helps eliminate microscopic tumor residues and achieve better outcomes. Not all patients are candidates for this type of surgery, which is why consultation with a multidisciplinary medical team, including radiologists, pathologists and medical oncologists, is essential in a specialized centre.

This is a complex surgical procedure that began to be developed by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker in the 1980s and is performed only by highly specialized surgeons, such as the team led by Domenico Sabia. For this reason, Sabia will soon receive the “Mentor” certification in this surgical technique, awarded by the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO).

Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC)

PIPAC allows surgeons to treat lesions in the abdominal cavity using aerosolized chemotherapy delivered through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. In addition, this treatment, which can be repeated several times to maximize its effect against a tumor, is used for patients who are not candidates for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with HIPEC.

PSOGI 2025

This internationally renowned congress will bring together more than 120 specialists in surgical oncology. The event is designed to provide cutting-edge knowledge on the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies, establishing itself as one of the most significant conventions in the field of oncology.

Dr. Lana Bijelic is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is also an international leader in cytoreductive surgery, serving on committees of leading oncology societies in both Europe and the Americas. “During the congress, we will have the invaluable collaboration of Paul Sugarbaker in the operating room, the world’s foremost expert in the key techniques we apply to our patients. His forward-looking vision and knowledge have been decisive in improving the survival of patients who develop peritoneal cancer,” explains Bijelic.

For more information: www.peritonealcancerinstitute.com or www.psogi2025.org