A peritoneal cancer diagnosis may be overwhelming and have wide-ranging impacts on you and your loved ones. At the OSUCCC – James, our comprehensive approach to peritoneal cancer includes the top doctors, specialists and treatment to provide the best care possible in central Ohio.
At the OSUCCC – James, the peritoneal cancer treatment team includes internationally recognized gynecologic and gastrointestinal medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, geneticists, nutritionists and more. This specialized team works across medical disciplines and develops individualized, highly targeted treatment plans for peritoneal cancer.
As a National Cancer Institue (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center, the OSUCCC – James has access to novel therapies that may not be available elsewhere in the United States, in addition to leading clinical trials that aim to improve treatment and outcomes.
Peritoneal cancer treatment
Your doctor will determine how to best treat your cancer based on a few factors, including the size of the tumor, location of the tumor, how advanced it is and your overall health.
One or more of the following treatments may be recommended for peritoneal cancer.
Surgery and HIPEC
Surgery is often a major component of treating peritoneal cancer. This can include a procedure known as cytoreductive surgery (CRS) in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). CRS will remove as much cancerous tissue as possible so that HIPEC can be performed; these procedures are performed by specially trained surgeons. In some cases, as part of the cytoreduction, the surgeon may remove organs or diseased parts of organs affected by cancer.
The second part of the procedure includes the administration of HIPEC. The OSUCCC – James is one of a select few cancer centers in the United States to perform this procedure. HIPEC uses heated chemotherapy drugs that are perfused into the abdominal cavity in the operating room — this allows chemotherapy to treat any residual tumor in the belly on the surface of the lining of the abdomen or remaining organs. It is a complex surgery and not everyone will qualify for treatment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs are administered to stop the growth of cancer cells and may be recommended by your doctor in addition to surgery. Different chemotherapy drugs can be delivered intravenously (IV), intramuscularly (in muscle) via injection or taken orally as a pill. Some people may have chemotherapy administered directly into the peritoneum during HIPEC.
Systemic chemotherapy involves drugs administered through the bloodstream to stop cancer cells. Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one anti-cancer drug.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies attack cancerous cells without harming nearby healthy cells. These drugs may have less severe side effects than chemotherapy drugs while still stopping cancer cells from growing. Your medical oncologist(s) will help determine if you are a good candidate for this type of treatment based on your specific cancer.
Bevacizumab
Bevacizumab is a drug that attaches to protein VEGF to stop new blood vessel growth and treat certain types of cancer, including primary peritoneal cancer. Tumors need blood vessels to grow, and bevacizumab prevents them from forming.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is administered to boost your body’s immune system and help it fight cancer. These treatments may include proteins that block tumor growth (known as monoclonal antibodies) and vaccines.
Peritoneal cancer clinical trials and research
As one of the country’s foremost cancer centers, the OSUCCC – James is committed to research and development that improves treatment and outcomes. Part of that commitment is clinical trials that provide hope. At any given time, researchers at the OSUCCC – James may have up to 500 open clinical trials, some of which you can enter before, during or after your cancer treatment begins.
The OSUCCC – James is one of only a few cancer centers funded by the NCI to conduct phase I and phase II clinical trials. This means developments for drugs that treat peritoneal cancer may be available here sooner than at other facilities.
If you have received a peritoneal cancer diagnosis or if you want a second opinion, we’re here to help. Call The James Line to schedule an appointment at 800-293-5066.
Related Resources
Peritoneal Cancer Prevention
Peritoneal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
Peritoneal Cancer Treatment Team