University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

More About Mesothelioma Treatment at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is located in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It often is referred to by the acronym UPMC, and the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated center.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that spreads aggressively to vital organs. People diagnosed with mesothelioma can go to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for diagnosis, treatment and other care. UPMC is highly touted for treating the type of mesothelioma that forms in the abdominal cavity: peritoneal mesothelioma.

Dr. James Pingpank runs the treatment program at UPMC for this type of cancer. He performs a type of treatment called HIPEC, which stands for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

HIPEC is a type of chemotherapy combined with a mesothelioma surgery. This type of chemotherapy combines with cytoreductive surgery to remove and kill peritoneal mesothelioma tumors in the abdominal cavity. Another name for this is regional perfusion therapy.

UPMC is known for innovative peritoneal mesothelioma treatment and became one of the first institutions to build a program based around HIPEC surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Experienced Mesothelioma Specialists

• Dr. James Pingpank, surgical oncologist and HIPEC specialist
• Dr. Liza Villaruz, medical oncologist

Affiliations

• University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Treatment Specialties

• HIPEC surgery with cytoreduction
• Pleurectomy/decortication surgery
• Extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery
• Hyperthermic chemoperfusion (pleural mesothelioma)
• Systemic chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy
• Clinical trials

Get Connected to University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is home to one of the best HIPEC programs in the world. Many peritoneal mesothelioma doctors received fellowship or residency training at UPMC.

Why Choose UPMC?

• Many mesothelioma specialists trained at UPMC
• Multidisciplinary approach to treatment
• Experienced cytoreductive/HIPEC surgeons

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Training New Doctors for Mesothelioma

The UPMC fellowship and residency programs have graduated many current peritoneal mesothelioma surgeons working at various cancer centers:

• Dr. Martin Goodman, Director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program at Tufts Medical Center
• Dr. Deepa Magge, surgical oncologist and HIPEC specialist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
• Dr. Joel Baumgartner, surgical oncologist at Moores Cancer Center at University of California San Diego

UPMC continues to send new doctors into the arena of mesothelioma treatment.

Hospital Ranking

• Not listed in the U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026 Hospitals Honor Roll
• Ranked 2nd in Pennsylvania
• Ranked 1st in Pittsburgh
• Ranked 33rd for cancer treatment in general
• Ranked 50th for lung cancer surgery (pleural mesothelioma)
• Ranked 37th for gastrointestinal cancer surgery (peritoneal mesothelioma)

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

One of the most popular types of clinical trials for mesothelioma involves immunotherapy. More studies are testing immunotherapy for peritoneal mesothelioma. This is in part due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of immunotherapy for pleural mesothelioma. One UPMC clinical trial tests immunotherapy with chemotherapy for this cancer of the peritoneal lining.

Another popular study is the phase 3 DREAM3R trial, which features the immunotherapy drug durvalumab for pleural mesothelioma. This is one of a handful of trials currently recruiting and with UPMC Hillman Cancer Center as a host site.

Is UPMC Right for Treating Your Mesothelioma?

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center is one of the top hospitals for cancer treatment in the world. Particularly for peritoneal mesothelioma cases, UPMC has a track record of providing life-saving treatment.

The extensive list of therapies, experienced staff and list of clinical trials are valuable assets to anyone with mesothelioma. Email our registered nurse, Karen Ritter, at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for more information about UPMC. She will guide patients through the process of choosing a specialized cancer center able to offer a personalized mesothelioma care plan.

Sources & Author

1. James F. Pingpank, MD. UPMC. Retrieved from: https://www.upmc.com/media/experts/james-f-pingpank. Accessed: 11/19/2021.
2. DuRvalumab With chEmotherapy as First Line treAtment in Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma (DREAM3R). Clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04334759. Accessed: 03/16/2022.
3. Chemotherapy With or Without Immunotherapy for Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Clinicaltrials.gov. Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05001880. Accessed: 03/16/2022.
4. UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/pa/upmc-university-of-pittsburgh-medical-center-6230029. Accessed: 08/11/2025.

About the Writer, Karen Ritter, RN BSN

Karen Ritter, a registered nurse, is the lead patient advocate for Mesothelioma Guide. She has a deep passion for patient care, which includes helping patients and their families search for treatment options at the top mesothelioma cancer centers. She finds the balance between encouraging patients to receive the best treatment possible while enjoying their time with loved ones and friends. Karen is a valuable asset for patients due to her knowledge of mesothelioma, compassion for the victims of this disease and dedication to guiding patients through their treatment journey.