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Phase II trial of systemic therapy plus intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel (PTX) in gastric/GEJ cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis (GPC): STOPGAP trial.

Falla-Zuniga LF, Sardi A, King MC, Lopez-Ramirez F, Kovalik V, Iugai S, Diaz-Montes T, Gushchin V. Small bowel obstruction and ovarian cancer: insights from a propensity-score matched study in patients with and without hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy after cytoreductive surgery. World J Surg Oncol. 2025 Aug 26;23(1):318. doi: 10.1186/s12957-025-03968-y. PMID: 40859247; PMCID: PMC12382003. Understanding the Study: Bowel Blockages in Advanced Ovarian Cancer This stu

By Antonia Dyroff Zurich, Switzerland The Challenge of Diagnosis and Isolation For many, a diagnosis of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) is a life-altering event that changes one's world overnight. Upon discovering a large appendix tumor within the abdomen—a circumstance that seemed unimaginable—I underwent two major surgeries to remove the tumor and to manage the disease. Each operation presented a fierce physical and emotional battle, followed by a recovery process that was bot

This research study explored outcomes for people with colorectal cancer that had spread to two places at the same time: the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum), and the liver.

Safety and Efficacy of Cisplatin and Doxorubicin Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy (PIPAC) in Patients with Ovarian Cancer with Peritoneal Metastases: A Multicenter US Phase I Trial. Authors : Nakamura, B., Senguttuvan, R., Ruel, N.H. et al. Ann Surg Oncol 33 , 415–425 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-025-18432-0 A New Way to Treat Cancer Spread in the Abdome n This study looked at a treatment called Pressurized Intra-Peritoneal Aerosol Chemother

Predictors of Successful Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Interval Cytoreductive Surgery in Management of Ovarian Cancer. ** Authors : Claudia Marchetti, MD, PhD, Gwenael Ferron, MD, et al. JCO Oncology Practice, Nov 24, 2025. DOI: 10.1200/OP-25-00469 Understanding Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery What the Study Was About This study focused on individuals with ovarian cancer who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). This means they undergo chemotherapy before surgery. T

Efficacy and safety of secondary cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Liu, HY., Tian, LH., Huang, G. et al. World J Surg Onc 23 , 423 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-04076-7 What the study looked at Researchers examined data from over 1,100 people with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (meaning the cancer responded to prior platinum c

During November we recognized Gastric and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month to bring more attention to advanced forms of this cancer. In case you missed it, here's a quick recap for the month! Understanding Gastric Cancer: Risks, Outlook, and Advances Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the stomach, which is responsible for breaking down food during digestion. Most (90-95%) gastric cancers begin in the stomach’s inne

Controlling perfusion temperature relates to better outcomes after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Lopez-Ramirez, Felipe et al. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, Volume 52, Issue 1, 110536 What is HIPEC? HIPEC ( Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy ) is a treatment where, after a surgeon removes as much visible tumor as possible (cytoreductive surgery), heated chemotherapy is circulated directly inside the abdominal cavity. Th

Appendix cancer is extremely rare — so rare that it does not appear in the American Cancer Society’s 2025 cancer statistics report and is listed by the National Institutes of Health under “rare digestive tumors.” Each year, only about 3,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed. However, recent research shows that appendix cancer is becoming more common across all age groups. Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin, surgical oncologist and Medical Director of the Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a major change that affects hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women in menopause. After reviewing many years of research, they are removing certain “black-box” warnings from HRT products. These warnings were once very prominent and suggested high risk in broad terms. What are they changing? The FDA will update labels for HRT products to remove or reduce warnings about heart disease, breast cancer, and dementia, when use

At the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International (PSOGI) meeting in Barcelona this October, Alliance Board Member Dr. Vadim Gushchin presented a new perspective on how surgeons should be trained to care for patients with peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM)—a group of rare cancers that spread inside the abdominal cavity, titled " What is special about teaching and learning PSM surgery? ". PSMs are cancers that spread inside the abdominal cavity , forming many small or

By Joseph Vaakaa Nigeria Following the death of his mother, Joseph Vaakaa founded a cancer non-profit foundation in Nigeria in her name “ Mbakuran Vaakaa Cancer (MVC) Foundation ” which has a goal to educate and increase public awareness to the public about cancer as most of those infected die as a result of knowledge gaps and lack of timely care and treatment. The following is a description of his work in increasing awareness awareness in Nigeria. The MVC Foundation is reg

By Joseph Vaakaa Nigeria During her life time, my mother, the late Mbakuran Vaakaa, had no major health challenges, apart from amoebic dysentery and a peptic ulcer, until sometime in August 2018 when she started complaining of pains in her lower abdomen. At the General Hospital Adikpo Benue State in Nigeria, the healthcare professional said her problem was likely hemorrhoids , after a period of treatment, the problem persisted and she was referred to another hospital (Federal

Vladislav Kovalik, MD, MSPH; Armando Sardi, MD, FACS; Mary Caitlin King, BS; Sergei Iugai, MD; Luis Felipe Falla-Zuniga, MD; Carol Nieroda, MD; and Vadim Gushchin, MD, FACS The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD Presentation Patterns and Treatment Outcomes in Appendix Cancer Patients Traveling to a High-Volume Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Center. Am Surg. 2025 Nov;91(11):1889-1897. doi: 10.1177/00031348251337155. Epub 2025 May 5. PMID: 4032288

A recent study by Mercy Medical Center reveals that despite longer delays to treatment and more advanced disease at presentation, out-of-state patients with rare appendix cancers achieve comparable long-term outcomes to local patients when treated at a high-volume specialized center. Key findings from the research, published July 2025 in The American Surgeon, include: Patients traveling from out of state waited an average of 4.6 months from diagnosis to surgery, compared to 2

This study focused on a key challenge: in many bowel cancers, especially stromal-rich types (those with lots of supporting tissue, or stromal cells, around the tumor), immune therapies aren’t working as well as hoped. Researchers investigated how certain “support” cells within the tumor (called stromal cells) may be actively helping the cancer by suppressing the body’s immune system. Then they investigated how to turn the immune system back on again in these hard-to-treat can

On October 20, 2025 some passionate and dedicated members of our community hosted the 2nd Annual Cure for Cancer Classic in Ellicott City, MD! Presented by Guilford Hall Brewery and Wilhelm Builders, this year’s tournament was held in loving memory of Chuck Phillips, an incredible husband, father, local community advocate and Executive Vice President of KCI Technologies based in Sparks, MD, who passed away in 2024 from Appendiceal Cancer.

This October, the Abdominal Cancers Alliance joined advocates, researchers, policymakers, and patient leaders from across the country at the NORD Breakthrough Summit 2025  in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) , the Summit brings together the rare disease community to share insights, build relationships, and drive collaboration toward better outcomes for all rare disease patients. Connecting Across the Rare Disease Landscape For the

A quarterly newsletter with the latest news, views and announcements from Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International (PSOGI) Led by pioneering surgical oncologist Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, PSOGI is a collaboration of experts from around the world on the treatment of peritoneal cancer and is dedicated to improving treatment and survival of patients with peritoneal metastases . While PSOGI World News  is a quarterly publication primarily intended for healthcare professionals, t