HIPEC Cancer Treatment
News release courtesy of University Medical Center of El Paso:
Advanced HIPEC Cancer Treatment for Complex Cancers
Performed At UMC By Texas Tech Health El Paso Specialists
University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC), in collaboration with Texas Tech Health El Paso, is expanding access to Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), an advanced, highly targeted treatment option for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
Each year, approximately 3,300 new cancer cases are diagnosed in El Paso County. HIPEC offers a powerful treatment alternative for select patients whose cancers have spread to the peritoneal lining, including ovarian, appendix, colorectal, gastric (stomach), and peritoneal mesothelioma cancers.
HIPEC combines two major steps: surgeons first perform cytoreductive surgery to remove all visible tumors, followed by 60 to 120 minutes of heated chemotherapy circulated directly within the abdominal cavity. The heat enhances the chemotherapy’s effectiveness, allowing it to penetrate deeper into tissues while minimizing exposure to the rest of the body.
Dr. Trevor Silva, assistant professor of hepatopancreatobiliary and general surgery at Texas Tech Health El Paso, emphasized the regional importance of this service.
“There is no HIPEC center between Phoenix and Dallas, making this partnership especially meaningful for patients in our region,” he said. “This procedure offers significantly prolonged survival for patients who otherwise would only receive palliative chemotherapy. Providing this level of care locally is incredibly important for our underserved population.”
UMC’s HIPEC program is supported by a highly specialized, multidisciplinary team that includes surgical oncologists, anesthesiologists, oncology nurses, perfusionists, and operating room staff trained in advanced cancer care.
“Being able to provide this type of advanced chemotherapy at UMC demonstrates our hospital’s capabilities and the level of care we can offer our community,” said Maria Zampini, chief executive officer of UMC. “HIPEC is an extremely complex procedure that requires not only a highly trained surgical team, but also an operating room equipped with specialized technology to safely deliver heated chemotherapy. Our OR team has worked tirelessly to build the expertise, precision, and coordination needed for a procedure of this magnitude, and we are incredibly proud of their commitment.”
UMC is the proud hospital partner of the Texas Tech Health El Paso Fox Cancer Center, currently under construction.
“Expanding access to advanced cancer treatment is essential to improving the lives of residents of our Borderplex community,” said Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso. “HIPEC is an innovative procedure for cancers of the abdomen that can be difficult to treat with traditional chemotherapy. By combining precise tumor removal with chemo delivered directly to the abdomen, HIPEC has the potential to improve long-term outcomes with fewer side effects. We’re pleased to join our UMC partners in providing this state-of-the-art procedure in El Paso.”
The cancer center will bring state-of-the-art technology, expert staff, and comprehensive cancer treatment to El Paso to help reduce the need for patients to travel outside the region for advanced care.
“The partnership University Medical Center of El Paso has with Texas Tech Health El Paso reflects a long‑term strategic commitment to strengthening cancer care in our region,” said Jacob Cintron, president and CEO of the El Paso County Hospital District. “By expanding services like HIPEC, we are building the foundation for a comprehensive, high‑level cancer program that keeps patients in El Paso and positions our community as a regional leader in advanced oncology care. This collaboration ensures that our investments, expertise, and resources continue to grow in ways that directly benefit the people we serve.”
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