Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

An advanced, targeted approach to abdominal cancer.

When cancer spreads within the abdomen, you need a treatment as precise as it is powerful. At University of Rochester Medicine Wilmot Cancer Institute, HIPEC delivers chemotherapy exactly where it's needed—giving you a better chance at lasting health.

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What is HIPEC?

HIPEC stands for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy—a specialized treatment that combines aggressive surgery to remove all visible disease (cytoreduction) with heated chemotherapy delivered directly inside your abdomen.

Benefits of HIPEC Surgery

• Direct Treatment
  Chemotherapy is delivered exactly where it is needed in the abdomen.
• One Combined Procedure
  HIPEC occurs during a cytoreductive surgery and can be an important addition to therapy.
• Concentrated Therapy
  Because the medication is delivered locally, not through the bloodstream, higher doses can be used with limited toxicity.
• Targets Microscopic Cancer Cells
  Heated chemotherapy helps destroy cancer cells that cannot be seen or removed during surgery.

Who Benefits from HIPEC?

HIPEC may be an option if you've been diagnosed with certain cancers that have spread within the abdominal cavity, including:

• Colorectal cancer
• Appendiceal cancers (including pseudomyxoma peritonei)
• Certain ovarian cancers
• Gastric or other abdominal cancers
• Mesothelioma
• Certain sarcomas

Our team evaluates every patient individually to determine whether HIPEC is the right path forward for you.

Your HIPEC Journey: What to Expect

HIPEC is typically performed during a longer surgical procedure and requires a hospital stay and recovery period.

Your care team will guide you through:

• Whether HIPEC is right for you
• Timing of HIPEC and ongoing therapy
• What the surgery and recovery involve
• Expected outcomes and potential risks

What Sets Us Apart

At Wilmot Cancer Institute, HIPEC is part of a highly coordinated, team-based approach to cancer care.

Multidisciplinary Expertise

Your care team includes colorectal surgeons, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, and specialized nurses—all working together to design a treatment plan tailored to you.

Personalized Treatment Plans

We take time to understand your diagnosis, your health, and your goals before recommending any treatment.

Advanced Surgical Care

HIPEC is performed by experienced surgeons trained in complex abdominal cancer procedures.

Integrated Support

From diagnosis through recovery, you'll have access to supportive care like nutrition counseling, rehabilitation, and symptom management.

Access to Innovation

Because Wilmot is an NCI-designated cancer center, you can take part in clinical trials and emerging therapies as they are available.

Meet Our Team

Zhaomin (Tim) Xu,
MD, MPH
Colorectal Surgery

Yfat Kadan, MD
Gynecologic Oncology

Larissa Temple, MD
Colorectal Surgery

Darren Carpizo, MD
Surgical Oncology