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Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program
Tufts Medical Center’s Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program offers Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (commonly referred to as HIPEC) for patients living with peritoneal carcinomatosis or very widespread, metastasis of cancerous tumors on the inside surfaces of the abdomen.
A Pioneering Treatment Option for Patients with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis until recently were considered terminally ill; however, Martin Goodman, MD at Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center’s Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program uses a special Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure that offers new options to patients with late-stage, complex cancers of the abdominal region. The HIPEC procedure ( intraperitoneal for treatment delivered to the abdominal cavity and hyperthermic chemotherapy for the heated chemotherapy solution) is performed following cytoreductive surgery to aggressively treat malignancies of the peritoneum that are caused by the following types of primary cancers:
- Appendiceal cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Pseudomyxoma peritonei
- Sarcomatosis
The program uses a peritoneal chemotherapy solution that is poured directly into the abdomen (called the peritoneal cavity). Chemotherapy given this way is more effective at killing cancer cells in the abdomen than chemotherapy that is given intravenously.
Tufts Medical Center is one of only a few hospitals in the United States offering this type of treatment. Request an appointment with the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program by calling (617) 636-9248.
Improving Quality of Life & Extending Survival
Cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC treatment has been shown to improve survival and quality of life for select patients who usually have few other options.
How Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Works
Tufts Medical Center surgical oncologists use standard cytoreductive surgical methods to remove all visible tumors that can be removed throughout the peritoneal cavity. Following surgery patients remain in the operating room and are administered a heated chemotherapy solution (either Mitomycin C or Cisplatin) throughout the abdomen using an FDA approved device for 90-120 minutes.
The lining of the abdominal cavity acts as a barrier to drug absorption into the circulation so that high concentrations of drugs can be delivered directly to the tumor during surgery enhancing the ability of the heated drugs to kill the cancer cells. Re-circulating the fluid through the abdominal cavity during the procedure assures even chemotherapy and heat distribution throughout the patient’s abdomen.
Developing Better Therapies through Research
Dr. Goodman and the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program staff are advancing the treatment of peritoneal based cancers and continue to research best practices for improved survival. This is being done by using a large prospective patient database and looking at multiple variables to see how to improve outcomes, decrease complications and how to make the procedure better. The program’s researchers also continue to collect tumors and evaluate cancer stem cells to better understand their role is in this disease.
Appointments & Referrals at Tufts Medical Center
Martin D. Goodman, MD
Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center
Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program
(617) 636-9248
mgoodman@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
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