HIPEC Expands Treatment Options for Some Cancer Patients at OhioHealth Riverside

An option for some cancer patients at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital includes an innovative treatment called Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). This can be beneficial for certain patients with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancers.

HIPEC combines two procedures: a cytoreductive surgery to remove all visible tumors in the abdomen while the patient is under anesthesia, followed by the infusion of heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity for 90 minutes.

“This allows for high local drug concentrations, improved tissue penetration and potential eradication of microscopic residual disease,” said Kellie Rath, MD, gynecologic oncologist with OhioHealth.

The penetration into the abdomen means there is direct contact between the chemotherapy and tumor and tumor cells.

“The normal side effects that people feel like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, peripheral neuropathy (or tingly numbness in the fingers and toes), are not a side effect of this process," said David Arrese, MD, complex surgical oncologist with OhioHealth.

Initially developed to treat pseudomyxoma, a rare appendiceal tumor, HIPEC has since been used for advanced-stage colon and gastric cancers. Now, growing evidence supports its use in treating stage 3 epithelial ovarian cancer.

“As we continue to advance gynecologic oncology care at OhioHealth, surgical strategies like HIPEC exemplify the importance of integrating innovation with evidence-based practice,” Dr. Rath said.

To hear more from Dr. Rath about various topics in cancer care, be sure to follow her on LinkedIn.