Innovative therapy! PIPAC used to treat 72-year-old Ovarian Cancer patient

Nagpur: In a significant medical breakthrough, a 72-year-old woman battling ovarian cancer received innovative treatment with Pressurised Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC). While PIPAC is typically used for abdominal malignancies, this pioneering approach delivered a glimmer of hope for the patient's condition.

Revolutionising Chemotherapy Delivery

In a manner akin to inhalers providing precise drug delivery to the lungs, PIPAC administers chemotherapy in the form of a pressurised aerosol directly into the abdominal cavity. This approach is celebrated for its safety and minimal side effects, distinguishing it from conventional chemotherapy notorious for issues like hair loss and skin concerns. Importantly, PIPAC ensures that a lower dose is administered, a critical advantage considering the proximity of vital organs within the abdominal cavity.

"PIPAC stands as an innovative and secure treatment methodology, generally well-tolerated by many patients. Its primary application lies in addressing end-stage peritoneal cancer, a condition affecting the delicate membrane that lines the abdomen, encompassing most abdominal organs. It is commonly recommended when cancer from the digestive system or female reproductive organs extends into the peritoneum," TOI quoted Dr Krunal Khobragade, a consultant oncologist at KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals.

Battle against Ovarian Cancer

The patient in question had been grappling with ovarian cancer, a condition noted for its predilection to spread within the peritoneum, the thin membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. Initial treatment efforts involved conventional chemotherapy through saline infusion. However, limited response was observed, largely due to the advanced nature of the disease.

Dr Khobragade elucidated, "Just as oral medications may not effectively reach the lungs, but inhalers are invaluable for asthma patients, PIPAC emerges as a promising alternative for individuals who have faced unresponsiveness to chemotherapy, suffer from advanced-stage cancer, or experience recurrence."

A Pioneering Procedure in Central India

This groundbreaking procedure marks the first instance of its kind in Nagpur and Central India, signifying a milestone in advanced cancer treatment characterised by peritoneal dissemination. PIPAC is a daycare procedure by design, but owing to the patient's Stage III cancer status, hospitalisation was necessitated.

While the conventional approach invariably prioritises systemic chemotherapy, disseminating medicine throughout the body, the distinct merits of PIPAC are especially salient for patients grappling with ovarian, gastric, colorectal, and peritoneal cancers.

The successful application of PIPAC therapy offers new hope and reinforces the ever-evolving landscape of cancer treatment, illuminating a path forward for those facing complex and challenging malignancies.