News

Ribeiro T, Rebelo P, Rangelova E ...Impact of cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC in the treatment of pancreatic cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis: A systematic review European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2026; 52 What was this study about? Pancreatic cancer that has spread to the lining of the abdomen (called the peritoneum) is often difficult to treat and is associated with poor outcomes. Standard treatment typically involves chemotherapy, but survival rates remain low.

Kai K, Ishizuka T, Matsumoto J, Shimamawari K, Lkham-Erdene B, Kubota T, Oo PS, Aung KM, Matsui H, Ikenoue M, Nanashima A, Hishikawa Y. Intraperitoneal blue LED irradiation as a potential approach to suppress gastric cancer peritoneal dissemination in a murine model. Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-57473-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42270921. What Was Studied? Researchers analyzed data from more than 25,000 patients with metastatic cancer to better understand p

Guide to treatment for uterine and endometrial cancers

Short term fasting may improve chemotherapy treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Zhu Y, Hanna N, Boutros C, Alexander HR Jr. Assessment of clinical benefit and quality of life in patients undergoing cytoreduction and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for management of peritoneal metastases. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2013 Mar;4(1):62-71. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2078-6891.2012.053. PMID: 23450068; PMCID: PMC3562622. What Was This Study About? Peritoneal metastases occur when cancer spreads to the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum). This can happ

June is Uterine and Endometrial Cancers Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support the thousands of individuals and families affected by these gynecologic cancers each year. While uterine cancer is often discussed as a single disease, it actually includes two distinct cancer types: endometrial cancer, which begins in the lining of the uterus and is the most common form of uterine cancer, and uterine sarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in the musc

by Armando Sardi, MD Surgical Oncologist President, Abdominal Cancers Alliance I am a surgeon. But more than that. I am an advocate, a partner, and a relentless believer in the power of knowledge and innovative care. My calling is rooted in the unwavering belief that every patient deserves not only the best possible care, but also hope, knowledge, and a fighting chance. In the fight against advanced abdominal cancers, we stand behind a powerful treatment that is changing outc

Switching Chemotherapy Drugs During Repeat CRS-HIPEC Surgery

A cancer diagnosis impacts far more than physical health. For many patients and caregivers, the financial burden of treatment can quickly become overwhelming. Between medical bills, travel expenses, time away from work, lodging, prescriptions, childcare, and everyday household costs, financial stress often becomes an added challenge during an already difficult time. That’s why the Abdominal Cancers Alliance is proud to introduce our new Financial Assistance Resource — a resou

By Tim Morgan New Hampshire What started as a suspected case of appendicitis on Halloween 2024 quickly spiraled into a confusing medical ordeal. When I went for surgery to have my appendix removed, there was a note in MyChart about a "possible malignancy" and removal of the right side of my colon which left me thunderstruck even though the surgeon indicated that it was probably nothing. A week later, I received the words that every patient dreads - "You have cancer." The Se

I have always been a pragmatist, a teacher of English Literature who looked for logic in the narrative arc of a story. But nothing in the great works of fiction could have prepared me for the moment the story became my own—or more accurately, my son’s. My son, “Hunter”, is 43, a gifted cinematographer living in Tulsa. He sees the world through a lens of light and shadow, but in 2023, a shadow fell over us that no camera could filter out. It began with standard abdominal pain

Setayeshpour, Y., Chen, SY., Dayanidhi, D.L. et al. Ascites protects against ferroptosis and enables the peritoneal growth of ovarian cancer. Nat Commun 17, 4190 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72116-1 A newly published study in Nature Communications sheds light on an important question in ovarian cancer research: why ovarian cancer cells are often able to survive and spread throughout the abdominal cavity. Researchers from Duke University School of Medicine found

A new study from researchers, led by Dr. John Shen, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is helping doctors better understand how routine follow-up testing may improve care for people living with appendiceal cancer, a rare cancer that begins in the appendix. Researchers found that common blood tests known as tumor markers may help predict how patients respond to treatment and whether their cancer is more likely to return after surgery. The findings reinforce a

Falla-Zuniga, L.F., King, M.C., Pawlikowski, K. et al. Quality of Life After Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC): Cancer Survivors’ Perspective Through In-Depth Interviews. Ann Surg Oncol 31, 7122–7132 (2024). What is this study about? This study looked at women with advanced ovarian cancer (stage III) who underwent: Cytoreductive surgery (surgery to remove as much cancer as possible) With or without HIPEC (heated chemotherapy deliv

Gudmundsdottir H, Yonkus JA, Thiels CA, Warner SG, Cleary SP, Kendrick ML, Truty MJ, Grotz TE. Oncologic Outcomes of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Highly Selected Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Nov;30(12):7833-7839. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14138-3. Epub 2023 Aug 19. PMID: 37596449. What is this study about? This study looked at a challenging situation: pancreatic cancer that has spread

In a room filled with warmth, courage, and an unmistakable sense of community, we gathered for our very first Living Proof event. Connected by our shared experiences with abdominal cancers, it was a celebration of shared challenges, resilience, and the power of human connection through storytelling and song. It was an experience that left us energized, inspired, and deeply moved.

Darling A, Harlev C, O’Cearbhaill R . Use of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer: A multidisciplinary review. Surgical Oncology Insight, 2026; 3 What is this study about? This article looks at a treatment called HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy). HIPEC is given during surgery for cancers that have spread inside the abdomen (like ovarian cancer). Doctors circulate warm chemotherapy directly in the belly to kill cancer

What is this interview about? This interview with Dr. Kiran Turaga explains a new approach to treating abdominal cancers called personalized chemotherapy. Instead of giving every patient the same treatment, doctors are working to match chemotherapy to each person’s specific tumor—so it works better and causes fewer side effects. Dr. Kiran Turaga Why is this important? Abdominal cancers (like colorectal, appendix, or ovarian cancers that spread in the abdomen) can be difficult

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. What was this study about? People with advanced ovarian cancer sometimes devel

Ha, E., Suzuki, Y., Sarkaria, I.S. et al. Outcome Analysis of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemoperfusion (HITHOC) for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei with Pleural Metastasis. Ann Surg Oncol 33, 3084–3090 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-025-18880-8 What is this study about? This study looked at a rare but challenging situation: when a condition called pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP)—a cancer that usually starts in the abdomen—spreads to the chest (pleura).