An oncological approach to reduce tumor burden and maximize control
Systemic cancer treatment for peritoneal cancer
If you have been diagnosed with abdominal metastases or peritoneal carcinomatosis, you may feel that the road ahead is uncertain. At the Peritoneal Cancer Institute, we turn uncertainty into an advanced medical strategy. Systemic treatment isn’t just chemotherapy; it’s a strategy to reduce the tumor or prevent its possible recurrence.
What is systemic treatment for peritoneal cancer?
Multi-day systemic strategy: maximum pharmacological precision
Systemic systemic treatment for peritoneal metastases involves administering drugs that travel through the bloodstream to locate and fight cancer cells anywhere in the body. Unlike localized treatments, this approach allows for the treatment of abdominal metastases comprehensively and prevent systemic metastases.
This treatment consists of three fundamental pillars:
- State-of-the-art chemotherapy: Cytotoxic drugs to stop cell division.
- Immunotherapy: Stimulates your own immune system to recognize and attack the tumor.
- Targeted therapies: Drugs designed to block specific cancer mutations.
Exclusive specialization in systemic cancer treatment
Why choose Peritoneal Cancer Institute
At most centers, treatment for colon, ovarian, or stomach cancer that has metastasized to the peritoneum is treated using conventional methods.
The difference between the PCI lies in ultra-specialization. We do not view systemic treatment as a stand-alone solution, but rather as part of a coordinated protocol that aims to make highly complex cases suitable candidates for successful surgery.
Systemic Cancer Treatment at the Peritoneal Cancer Institute
An environment designed to ensure the effectiveness of your treatment
The Peritoneal Cancer Institute is not a general oncology hospital. We are a highly specialized center in medical and surgical oncology. Our philosophy is based on the comprehensive and multidisciplinary management of peritoneal metastases and their primary tumors.
We have advanced technologies and committees of professionals specializing in specific types of tumors who analyze each case of peritoneal carcinomatosis as a unique challenge to survival.
Are you a candidate for systemic cancer treatment?
Precision Oncology Assessment to Determine Your Treatment Strategy
This approach is vital for patients facing various scenarios of metastasis in the peritoneum:
Colon and Rectal Cancer
Control of dissemination following primary surgery.
Ovarian cancer
Reduction in tumor mass prior to surgery.
Gastric cancer
Management of carcinomatosis to improve quality of life.
Pancreatic Cancer
Targeted therapies to slow tumor progression.
Primary peritoneal tumor
In which the need for systemic treatment is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Systemic Cancer Treatment Process
Surgical Precision: The Stages of Your Treatment
Understanding the process will give you the peace of mind you need to focus on your recovery.
Molecular Assessment
We analyze your tumor’s genetics to select the most effective drug.
Neoadjuvant Phase (Preoperative)
We administer systemic treatment to reduce the size of tumor implants and facilitate radical surgery.
Coordinated Intervention
We evaluate the response to treatment to determine the optimal timing for surgery.
Adjuvant Phase (Postoperative)
We consolidate the results by eliminating any residual microscopic cells throughout the body to minimize the risk of recurrence.
Oncologists specializing in peritoneal metastasis
Medical Leadership and Human Commitment
Our team consists of surgical oncologists and medical oncologists who specialize exclusively in the treatment of peritoneal metastases and their primary tumors. We are backed not only by decades of experience and thousands of successful surgeries, but also by our ability to advise you.
At Peritoneal Cancer Institute, you are not just a medical record number; you are a patient and a life we champion with science and compassion.
Clinical Cases and Experience with Systemic Cancer Treatment
The Impact of Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions About Systemic Cancer Treatment
What exactly does systemic cancer treatment involve?
It is a medical approach in which drugs travel through the bloodstream to locate and attack malignant cells anywhere in the body. In your case, it includes chemotherapy for peritoneal cancer, immunotherapy or biological therapies, targeting abdominal metastases in a comprehensive manner, whether to prepare your body before surgery or to consolidate the results afterward.
What is the difference between carcinomatosis and metastasis?
The difference between carcinomatosis and metastasis does not exist. Peritoneal carcinomatosis and peritoneal metastases are synonymous terms and refer to tumor spread affecting multiple sites of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity—the peritoneum—and the surfaces of the organs. However, metastases also occur when a tumor spreads within intra-abdominal or extra-abdominal organs. The systemic treatment is the primary tool for combating both scenarios.
I have peritoneal involvement due to a colon tumor. Will this treatment help me?
Yes. In cases of colon cancer that has metastasized to the peritoneum, the goal of systemic treatment is to reduce the tumor burden. Administering targeted drugs before surgery often makes an initially unresectable tumor resectable, significantly increasing your chances of a cure.
How does immunotherapy work for this type of tumor?
Immunotherapy immunotherapy for peritoneal cancer represents one of the greatest advances in oncology. Unlike chemotherapy, it does not attack both tumor cells and healthy cells; rather, it activates and trains your own immune system to specifically recognize and destroy tumor cells. It is particularly effective, but only in patients with certain genetic profiles.
Is systemic treatment effective if my condition is gynecological in origin?
Absolutely. In fact, when faced with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer with peritoneal metastases, administering systemic treatment before surgery is a standard and highly effective protocol. It helps reduce the size of the tumor implants, which makes it easier for our surgeons to perform a much more precise and clean procedure.
I've been diagnosed with a metastatic gastrointestinal tumor. Is there any hope with these therapies?
Of course. Coping with stomach cancer that has metastasized to the peritoneum is complex, but the use of targeted therapy—often combined with state-of-the-art locoregional chemotherapy (PIPAC)—allows us to slow the progression of the disease, manage symptoms, and create a window of opportunity for surgery.
Are the side effects very severe?
The effects depend on your body and the medication you choose, but cancer treatment has advanced tremendously. In the PCI , we prescribe highly effective supportive medications to control nausea and fatigue. In addition, targeted therapy and immunotherapy are usually much better tolerated than traditional chemotherapy, helping to preserve your quality of life throughout the process.
How long will I need to receive systemic treatment?
The duration of treatment varies depending on your diagnosis, whether it involves gynecological or gastrointestinal neoplasms or pancreatic cancer with peritoneal metastases. Typically, treatment is administered in 3- to 6-month cycles. After the first 2–3 months of treatment, our specialists use imaging tests to evaluate how the peritoneal carcinomatosis to plan the next clinical step.
Is treatment always administered intravenously in the hospital?
Not always. Although much of the systemic treatment is administered intravenously under strict supervision, there are some innovative drugs for targeted therapy that come in pill form. In these cases, you can take them from the comfort of your home, while always remaining under continuous medical supervision by our team.
Why do I need medication if I'm going to have surgery anyway?
In some cases, performing surgery on abdominal metastases without prior preparation may leave behind active microscopic cells. The Systemic Cancer Treatment stabilizes or reduces the lesions, and subsequent (adjuvant) treatment acts as a final “sweep” that eliminates any residual cells systemically, minimizing the risk of the disease recurring in the future.
