Mercy Medical Center Shares Research at the 20th Anniversary Advanced Cancer Therapies Meeting

In February, the Surgical Oncology team from Mercy Medical Center shared their research and clinical insights at the 20th Anniversary Advanced Cancer Therapies (ACT) Meeting — a landmark gathering for the peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM) community.

Advancing Surgical Quality in CRS/HIPEC Care

Dr. Vadim Gushchin, Alliance Board member, presented “The Power of Consistency in Achieving Surgical Quality: 30 Years, 2 Surgeons, 1 Nonacademic PSM Program.” This review highlighted how structured care pathways, a dedicated surgical team, and continuous monitoring of outcomes produce high-quality, safe, and productive CRS/HIPEC programs, even outside academic centers.

Highlights from 30 years of experience:

• 1,397 CRS/HIPEC procedures in 1,265 patients

• 90.6% complete cytoreduction rate (CC-0/1)

• 5-year overall survival: 47.4% | 10-year OS: 38.4%

• 100+ peer-reviewed publications and 15 prospective studies

• 15 research fellows who have gone on to careers in oncology, surgery, and pathology

The takeaway: High-quality surgical outcomes are achieved through deliberate structure, disciplined processes, and continuous measurement — not simply by the institution type.

High-Grade Appendix Cancer Management

Dr. Gushchin also presented on the treatment of high-grade mucinous appendix cancers, including signet ring cell and goblet cell tumors, emphasizing a surgery-first approach when complete cytoreduction is possible.

Key takeaways:

• Complete CRS/HIPEC is the preferred strategy for resectable appendix cancers, regardless of PCI or tumor histology

• Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should generally be reserved for patients who are not surgical candidates or are enrolled in clinical trials

• Even complex, high-grade tumors benefit from complete cytoreduction

Expert panel discussions, including comments from Armando Sardi, Co-Founder and President of the Alliance, confirmed that first-line chemotherapy is not recommended when complete surgical removal is achievable.

Research Presentations

Dr. Kseniia Uzhegova, a research fellow, shared detailed outcomes for patients with signet ring cell peritoneal disease, highlighting how tumor cell predominance affects prognosis and informing patient selection for CRS/HIPEC.

Additionally, the team presented a focused session on high-grade appendix tumors based on the latest research from the Mercy program. This presentation reinforced that even aggressive tumor types can benefit from surgery-first strategies, and emphasized key prognostic factors and outcomes for patients with extensive disease.

Looking Ahead

These presentations underscore Mercy Medical Center’s commitment to:

• Advancing evidence-based care for patients with peritoneal surface malignancies

• Refining treatment strategies for high-grade appendix cancers

• Training future oncology leaders through research fellowship programs

The team also acknowledged the essential role of patients and advocacy communities — including groups such as the Abdominal Cancers Alliance and the Heat It to Beat It initiative — whose participation continues to increase awareness, drive research, and improve outcomes for all those affected by PSMs.