MedStar Washington Hospital Center

Innovation in Mesothelioma Treatment: Cytoreduction and HIPEC

One of the most significant advantages of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center is that they are one of the few hospitals to offer cytoreductive surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for treating peritoneal mesothelioma.

The process begins with the complex cytoreductive surgery, which involves the removal of the abdominal lining and the meticulous resection of all cancerous tissue. Then, the HIPEC procedure is used to administer chemotherapy directly to the abdomen. This process reduces the toxicity in the patient’s body due to chemotherapy treatment while giving doctors the ability to use stronger doses.

Dr. Paul Sugarbaker

The pioneer of cytoreduction and HIPEC procedure, Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, serves as the Director of Surgical Oncology at the Washington Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington.

Until the development of the HIPEC procedure by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker in the 1980s, chemotherapy could only be administered up to a certain dosage before becoming toxic. Since most chemotherapy drugs are delivered through an IV, they circulate throughout the patient’s entire body. The HIPEC procedure allows surgeons to introduce chemotherapy directly into the abdomen targeting peritoneal tissue at higher doses, which makes it more effective while being less toxic to the patient.

With this procedure, patients have extended their life expectancy an average of 3 years longer than their pre-operation prognosis estimated. Patients who are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and do not undergo surgery of any kind have an average life expectancy of 11 months. There have even been quite a few instances where patients live for more than five years after their recovery from the cytoreduction with HIPEC treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, the median survival for a patient who has undergone the cytoreduction with HIPEC procedure is 7 years, with some patients in rare cases living up to fifteen years.

Is MedStar Washington Hospital Center Right for You?

The Washington Cancer Institute at The MedStar Hospital Center is one of the top peritoneal mesothelioma treatment centers in the country. The experience and expertise offered by MedStar staff give patients the most comprehensive treatment plans available, including:

• Specialized treatment procedures
• Decades of research and experience treating mesothelioma
• Access to top surgeons in the field

If this cancer center sounds like the right fit for your treatment needs, we can help get you connected. Contact one of our patient advocates at 1-888-385-2024 to get in touch with the Washington Cancer Institute or get answers to your questions through our Doctor Match Program.