Novel Techniques and the Future of HIPEC (Immunotherapy, Viral Therapy)

Cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) has been shown to improve survival in select patients with advanced peritoneal malignancies. However, many patients present with unresectable disease, and recurrence is frequent in those who undergo CRS/HIPEC. For these patients, investigators are developing novel therapies that utilize the body’s own immune system to rid the body of cancer. The use of regional immunotherapy is a promising approach for patients with advanced peritoneal malignancies. Advances in the field of cancer immunotherapy and gene therapy over the last three decades have provided a novel class of therapies with immeasurable potential. Today, multiple strategies to harness an immune response to cancer are available, which include antibody-, T-cell-, and viral-based approaches. Each has its respective challenges but also hold unique advantages to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and induce an immune-mediated tumor response.