Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Cancer is tough. At UChicago Medicine, HIPEC is tougher.

HIPEC is an aggressive, targeted surgical technique that attacks abdominal cancer with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. At the end of surgery to remove tumors, the patient's abdominal cavity is bathed in a heated, highly concentrated chemotherapy solution to eliminate any residual cancer. UChicago Medicine is one of the few hospitals that offers HIPEC for both adult and pediatric patients. HIPEC care is part of our highly respected Regional Cancer Therapies Program.

How Does HIPEC Work?

Hyperthermic (or Heated) Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a surgical procedure that’s giving new hope to patients with abdominal cancers. Immediately after removing visible tumors through what’s called cytoreductive surgery, our surgeons pump a powerful dose of heated chemotherapy inside a patient’s abdomen.

The 108-degree chemo bath circulates throughout the abdominal area, also called the peritoneal cavity, delivering highly concentrated doses of hot chemotherapy. That allows doctors to intensify the drugs’ cancer-fighting abilities while directly targeting cancerous cells. After about 90 minutes of the infusion, the chemo is washed out and incisions are closed.

For patients with early cancers, our surgeons are frequently able to perform HIPEC through smaller incisions using minimally invasive techniques (also known as laparoscopic surgery). This approach is not widely available.

HIPEC is an aggressive, targeted surgical technique that attacks abdominal cancer with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] HIPEC means hope for patients with abdominal cancer. Here's why. HIPEC, hypothermic or heated intraperitoneal chemoperfusion, is an aggressive targeted surgical technique for patients with a variety of abdominal cancers. HIPEC helps with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy, deeper penetration of the medicine, and greater effectiveness in killing cancer cells than conventional chemotherapy.

UChicago Medicine is one of the only hospitals to offer the treatment for both children and adults. How does HIPEC work? First, surgeons remove the patients' tumors immediately following surgery. The patient's abdomen is treated with a heated chemotherapy bathe. The chemotherapy is heated to cause blood vessels to expand and improve the medicines penetration and effectiveness. They heated concentrated dose of chemotherapy can directly target cancerous cells, destroying them before they can become future tumors.

This also means that the chemo stays where it can help the most rather than circulating throughout the body. After about 90 minutes, the surgeons wash out the chemo and close the incisions. We also offer minimally invasive HIPEC to eligible patients. For some patients, HIPEC will achieve a long term cure for their abdominal cancers. In other cases, HIPEC allows doctors to treat incurable cancers more like a chronic disease and less like a terminal illness. HIPEC means hope for patients with abdominal cancer. Need more information about HIPEC? Call 888-824-0200 or go to UChicagomedicine.org/HIPEC. UChicago Medicine is here to help.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

What are the Benefits of HIPEC?

Patients should consider HIPEC because it has:

Fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy because the cancer-fighting agents don’t circulate throughout the whole body;
Deeper penetration of the medicine, thanks to high temperatures that cause blood vessels to expand
Greater effectiveness at killing cancer cells in the abdomen

Download an infographic about HIPEC (PDF)

Who Is a Candidate for HIPEC?

Our HIPEC team is one of the most experienced in the nation, and one of just a few locations that offers the treatment to children and adults. The best candidates are those who have been diagnosed with:

Appendix cancer
Colorectal cancer
Desmoplastic small round cell tumors (typically occurs in adolescents or young adults)
Malignant ascites
Mesothelioma
Ovarian cancer
Peritoneal cancer
Stomach (gastric) cancer
Other locally advanced cancers in the abdomen

For some patients, HIPEC will achieve a long-term cure for their abdominal cancers. In other cases, HIPEC allows doctors to treat incurable cancers more like a chronic disease and less like a terminal illness.

A Leader in HIPEC Care

At UChicago Medicine, our HIPEC team includes nationally known HIPEC surgeon Mecker G. Möller, MD, and includes medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses and cancer scientists. This level of HIPEC expertise is unmatched in the greater Chicago area. Our HIPEC team members are advancing cancer science in several ways, from studying how to prevent the spread of cancer (metastasis) to investigating how the microbiome, or community of microorganisms living in the body, plays a role in disease. We're also at the forefront of immunotherapy, harnessing the power of the immune system to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Why Should I Choose UChicago Medicine for Cancer Care?

The University Medicine is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the gold standard for cancer programs and the highest federal rating an U.S.-based cancer center can achieve. Our world-renowned team includes hundreds of physicians, nurses and scientists known for innovative clinical trials, compassionate patient care and leading-edge research into cancer treatment and prevention.

Our HIPEC Physician Team

Our HIPEC team includes specialists from several areas, including medical and surgical oncology, gynecologic oncology, pediatric surgery, psycho-oncology, palliative care, pathology and radiology.

Mecker G. Möller, MD

Gastrointestinal Surgery (GI Surgery)

Ryan Merkow, MD, MS

Gastrointestinal Surgery (GI Surgery)

Cecilia Ong, MD

General Surgery

Grace Mak, MD

Pediatric Surgery

Nita Karnik Lee, MD, MPH

Gynecologic Oncology (Gynecologic Cancer)

Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD

Gynecologic Oncology (Gynecologic Cancer)

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-855-702-8222 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a patient for HIPEC, please call 1-855-702-8222.

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