Regional Cancer Therapies

Question 1

Hyperthermic (or heated) intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)

Answer

UChicago Medicine is one of the few hospitals in the country that offers this advanced treatment for adults and children with selected types of metastatic abdominal cancer causing peritoneal carcinomatosis (cancer in the tissue surrounding the abdominal organs). Hyperthermic (or heated) intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is delivered by an expert surgical oncologist at the time of tumor removal (cytoreductive surgery). During HIPEC, surgeons deliver heated chemotherapy inside the abdomen to kill any remaining cancer cells with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.

Question 2

Hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump chemotherapy

Answer

UChicago Medicine is the only hospital in Illinois to offer this powerful treatment for patients with certain metastatic colorectal and bile duct cancers that affect the liver. During hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump chemotherapy, the surgeon places a wireless pump in the abdomen to deliver high doses of chemotherapy — as much as 300 to 400 times higher than IV chemotherapy — directly to the liver.

Question 3

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) injections

Answer

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) injection is an FDA-approved, outpatient treatment is for advanced in-transit or not surgically resectable melanoma of the skin or lymph nodes. Over the course of six months or more, a doctor repeatedly injects a tumor with a drug that uses a genetically modified virus to stimulate the patient’s own immune system to destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells.

Question 4

Isolated limb infusion (ILI)

Answer

UChicago Medicine is among a select group of hospitals to offer isolated limb perfusion (ILI) for certain melanomas and sarcomas (bone and soft tissue cancers) in an arm or leg that cannot be removed with surgery. During this innovative treatment, a surgical oncologist delivers high doses of chemotherapy through a catheter (small tube) to the affected limb. At the same time, blood flow is temporarily restricted in the area to keep the chemotherapy near the tumor.

Question 5

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)

Answer

During transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), chemotherapy drugs are delivered directly to a liver tumor through an artery. At the same time, substances are placed in the artery to reduce blood flow to the tumor. This approach is often used to treat liver cancer or other types of cancer that have spread to the liver.

Question 6

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE)

Answer

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) can help patients with some types of liver cancer or other types of cancer that has spread to the liver. In TARE, an interventional radiologist threads a thin tube through an artery to send radiation directly to a liver tumor. It has fewer side effects than chemoembolization.

Question 7

Ablation

Answer

This outpatient treatment for liver, lung, kidney, soft tissue, bone and spine tumors involves burning or freezing away tumor tissue. During the procedure, an interventional radiologist guides a needle into a tumor using imaging guidance. Then, they deliver cold or hot energy to burn away the tumor.

Question 8

Irreversible electroporation (IRE or NanoKnife)

Answer

This nonthermal type of ablation allows interventional radiologists to treat tumors close to critical blood vessels or structures for patients with cancers of the liver, bile duct, soft tissue or kidney.

Question 9

Histotripsy

Answer

UChicago Medicine is the first hospital in Illinois to offer this non-invasive treatment for liver tumors. During histotripsy, an interventional radiologist uses a robotic machine to destroy tumors with sound waves — without needles.

Regional Cancer Therapies

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Regional Therapies Available at UChicago Medicine