PSOGI World News – November 2026: Global Progress in Peritoneal Cancer Treatment and the Push for Better Access to Specialized Care
A quarterly newsletter with the latest news, views, and announcements from the Peritoneal Surface Oncology Group International (PSOGI).
Led by pioneering surgical oncologist Dr. Paul Sugarbaker, PSOGI brings together experts from around the world dedicated to improving the treatment and outcomes of patients with peritoneal surface malignancies that develop in or spread to the lining of the abdomen.
The Abdominal Cancers Alliance is pleased to share highlights from the November 2026 issue of PSOGI World News.
This issue takes a global look at the progress being made in treating peritoneal cancers, including appendix, colorectal, ovarian, gastric, and peritoneal mesothelioma. Experts from 13 geographic regions discuss advances in cytoreductive surgery (CRS), hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), emerging treatments, and efforts to expand access to specialized care.
While treatment options continue to evolve, the newsletter reinforces an important message: Where a patient lives should not determine whether they have access to potentially beneficial cancer treatment.
What were the key takeaways?
The November issue highlights both the remarkable progress made in peritoneal cancer treatment and the challenges that remain. Across the world, specialists are working to improve surgical techniques, study new therapies, strengthen referral networks, and ensure that more patients have access to experienced multidisciplinary teams.
1. Specialized peritoneal cancer care is expanding worldwide
Over the past several decades, CRS and HIPEC have evolved from treatments offered at relatively few institutions to specialized procedures available at centers across much of the world.
The newsletter highlights encouraging developments:
United States: Specialized treatment programs have expanded considerably, with centers increasingly working together to improve patient selection, treatment outcomes, and research.
India: CRS and HIPEC programs have grown significantly, supported by expanded surgical training, national registries, and research collaborations.
Middle East: Countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates have developed specialized programs and are strengthening regional partnerships.
Canada: Established programs are working toward a more coordinated national network, with greater emphasis on multidisciplinary care and improved referrals.
Latin America and Southeast Asia: New programs and mentorship initiatives are helping bring specialized treatment to communities that previously had limited access.
What this means for patients: More treatment centers and stronger referral networks may create additional opportunities for patients to receive expert evaluations and explore treatment options closer to home.
2. Finding an experienced specialist remains one of the most important steps
A consistent message throughout the newsletter is the importance of early evaluation by a team experienced in treating peritoneal cancers.
Cytoreductive surgery, which aims to remove all visible cancer from the abdomen, is a complex procedure requiring specialized training and careful patient selection. For some patients, CRS—sometimes combined with HIPEC—may offer meaningful benefits.
However, not every patient is a candidate for surgery, and the best approach depends on several factors, including:
The type of cancer and its biological characteristics
How extensively the cancer has spread
Whether surgeons believe all visible cancer can be safely removed
The patient's overall health and treatment history
The potential benefits and risks of surgery compared with other treatments
Experts from Mexico, Canada, Africa, and other regions emphasize that patients may miss potential treatment opportunities when referrals to specialized centers happen too late—or never occur.
What this means for patients: A diagnosis of peritoneal metastases does not automatically mean that surgery is impossible. Seeking an evaluation or second opinion from a specialist experienced in peritoneal surface malignancies may help patients better understand their options.
3. Research continues to clarify when HIPEC provides the greatest benefit
Although CRS and HIPEC are widely used for certain peritoneal cancers, researchers continue to investigate which patients benefit most and which chemotherapy approaches are most effective.
The European update highlights important clinical trials that are helping specialists refine treatment decisions.
For example, the PERISCOPE II trial did not demonstrate an overall survival benefit from adding extensive surgery and HIPEC to treatment for selected patients with gastric cancer and limited peritoneal metastases, compared with systemic therapy alone.
Other studies involving colorectal and gastric cancers have also produced mixed findings regarding the additional benefits of HIPEC.
These results emphasize that HIPEC should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all treatment. Its effectiveness may depend on the cancer type, chemotherapy drugs used, the extent of disease, and individual patient characteristics.
Researchers are continuing to evaluate different chemotherapy combinations, treatment sequences, and approaches to selecting patients.
What this means for patients: Understanding why a particular treatment is being recommended is essential. Patients should feel empowered to ask their specialists about the evidence supporting CRS, HIPEC, or other treatments for their specific diagnosis.
4. New therapies and technologies may create more personalized treatment options
Beyond traditional CRS and HIPEC, researchers worldwide are exploring additional ways to treat cancer within the abdomen.
Some promising areas highlighted in the newsletter include:
PIPAC (Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy): A treatment that delivers chemotherapy directly into the abdomen as a pressurized mist during a minimally invasive procedure.
NIPS (Normothermic Intraperitoneal and Systemic Chemotherapy): An approach combining chemotherapy delivered into the abdomen at normal body temperature with chemotherapy that circulates throughout the body.
Immunotherapy and targeted treatments: Researchers are studying ways to use the immune system and specific tumor characteristics to guide treatment.
Molecular testing and artificial intelligence: New tools are being investigated to help predict treatment response, detect disease, and better identify patients who may benefit from particular therapies.
Research programs in China, Korea, India, and the United States are exploring several of these approaches.
Many remain investigational for specific cancers and treatment settings, but they reflect growing efforts to move toward more personalized cancer care.
What this means for patients: Treatment options continue to evolve. Asking about clinical trials and emerging therapies may be particularly valuable for patients facing advanced, recurrent, or difficult-to-treat disease.
5. International collaboration is helping improve research and patient care
One of the most encouraging themes throughout the newsletter is the growing commitment to collaboration between specialized cancer centers.
Countries are developing patient registries, sharing treatment outcomes, coordinating research, and establishing mentorship programs to help new centers build expertise.
Examples include:
Saudi Arabia's development of a national peritoneal surface malignancy database.
Canada's efforts to strengthen coordinated referrals and standardized data collection.
India's participation in international clinical trials and collaborative research.
Collaborative training initiatives in the Philippines that have helped additional hospitals begin offering CRS and HIPEC.
Europe's continued work to connect research centers, patient registries, and clinical trials.
These efforts are particularly important for rare cancers, where individual hospitals may see relatively few patients.
By sharing information and combining research efforts, specialists may be better positioned to understand which treatments work, identify complications, and improve patient outcomes.
6. The next major challenge is making specialized care accessible to everyone
Despite advances in treatment, the newsletter makes clear that significant disparities remain.
In some countries, specialized programs are unavailable. In others, patients may face substantial travel expenses, insurance limitations, financial barriers, or delays in reaching the appropriate specialist.
Even in countries with established treatment centers, people living in rural and underserved communities may have difficulty accessing expert care.
The newsletter highlights successful efforts to address these barriers, including expanded public funding for certain peritoneal cancers in Brazil, regional surgical mentorship in the Philippines, and coordinated referral systems in Canada.
Looking ahead, PSOGI's 2027 International Congress in Ahmedabad, India, will embrace the theme:
"Peritoneal Malignancy Moonshot – No patient should be left behind."
This message reflects the growing recognition that improving access to specialized care is just as important as developing new treatments.
Why does this matter for patients?
The November 2026 issue reinforces several important messages for people facing advanced abdominal cancers:
Specialized expertise matters. Peritoneal cancers are complex, and experienced multidisciplinary teams play an important role in evaluating treatment options.
A second opinion can provide valuable information. Patients may benefit from consulting a specialist who regularly treats their specific type of cancer.
Treatment must be individualized. CRS, HIPEC, systemic chemotherapy, PIPAC, and other approaches have different roles depending on the disease and patient.
Research is creating new possibilities. International collaboration and clinical trials are helping specialists better understand which treatments may offer the greatest benefits.
Access remains a critical issue. Patients should have opportunities to receive appropriate specialized evaluations regardless of geography or financial circumstances.
What are the limitations?
This newsletter is not a single research study or a formal clinical treatment guideline. Instead, it brings together regional reports, expert perspectives, summaries of published research, and descriptions of ongoing initiatives.
The availability of detailed information varies significantly between countries, and some regional observations are based on individual experiences rather than comprehensive national data.
Additionally, many of the emerging treatments discussed are still being evaluated through clinical trials. Their potential benefits must be confirmed before they can become established approaches for particular patient populations.
Bottom line
The November 2026 issue of PSOGI World News offers an encouraging look at the global progress being made in the treatment of peritoneal cancers.
Advances in specialized surgery, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, personalized treatment approaches, and international research are creating new opportunities to improve care. Yet an equally important challenge remains: ensuring that patients can reach the expertise and resources they need.
For patients and families, the message is clear: Understanding your treatment options, seeking specialized care, and asking questions can make a meaningful difference in your cancer journey.
At the Abdominal Cancers Alliance, we share PSOGI's commitment to connecting patients with information, resources, and specialized care. Through education, patient navigation, and awareness, we work to ensure that no one facing an advanced abdominal cancer diagnosis has to navigate these challenges alone.
