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Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) delivers chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity. It is used in conjunction with cancer surgery for people with advanced cancer that has spread inside the abdomen. “Hyperthermic” means warm or hot. “Intraperitoneal” means inside the abdominal cavity, which is encased in a sac called the peritoneum.
HIPEC uses high-dose chemotherapy to kill microscopic cancer cells inside the abdominal cavity. The HIPEC procedure is performed immediately after a surgeon has removed all visible cancer in the abdomen. HIPEC is well studied in several types of cancer and being explored as a potential treatment in others.
"So really any cancer that's just localized in the abdomen on the surface of the peritoneum could be a candidate," explains Dr. Travis Grotz, a Mayo Clinic surgical oncologist. "We know for sure, based on studies and data that HIPEC works well for cancers of the colon, cancers of the appendix, cancer to the ovaries, cancer of the stomach, and there's even a cancer of the lining of the peritoneum, called mesothelioma. So those would be the cancers I think that are well studied and well accepted. Then, there are more rare tumors that we have less data for, such as cancer to the pancreas or gallbladder or small intestine, that we don't know yet if that's the right treatment."
The specific type of chemotherapy used for HIPEC varies depending on the type of cancer being treated. The abdominal cavity is bathed with hot chemotherapy to kill any microscopic cancer cells that might still be present. Heating the chemotherapy enhances its effectiveness because, when it’s hot, chemotherapy penetrates the tissue more deeply, increasing the number of cancer cells it can reach.
On this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Grotz explains what HIPEC is, how it is performed, and the risks and benefits of the treatment.
Related Articles:
- "New therapies bring hope for ovarian cancer."
- "Alternative chemotherapy offers hope for late-stage cancers."
- "Aggressive treatment turns tide in fighting colon cancer."
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
For more information, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
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In July 2022, I asked my wife's oncologist (stage IV pancan) if we could infuse chemo when she had paracentesis. The answer was a combination of you can't do that and we don't do things that way. Logic told me that getting the chemo or other appropriate agents into direct contact with the mets should be more effective than venous infusion. I'm happy to see that Mayo offers this option when appropriate. It's too late for my wife who passed in September but hopefully this hot chemo proves effective and becomes more widely known and available.
Dr. Grotz performed my HIPEC procedure for my Stage 4 grade 2 mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix. I've been NED since, going on 3 1/2 years.
Welcome @dvosburg. No evidence of disease (NED) is always great to hear about. I'd like to invite you to share more about what the HIPEC procedure was like in any of these HIPEC related dicussions:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=HIPEC+
How did you feel right after the procedure?