Additional options will allow more central Missouri patients to receive treatment close to home

University of Missouri Health Care now offers targeted chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancers and abdominal cancers.

Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) is a type of chemotherapy to treat advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver. It delivers high dose chemotherapy directly into the liver using an implanted pump. This new technology was not previously available in central Missouri but is now being offered at MU Health Care’s Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia.

“What makes HAI unique is that it pumps the chemotherapy directly to your cancer cells and limits exposure to other parts of the body,” said MU Health Care surgical oncologist Dr. Vikas Satyananda. “Research shows that patients who undergo HAI live longer with fewer side effects and improved quality of life.”  

MU Health Care will also now offer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which is a targeted approach to treating cancers involving the abdominal cavity. After a cancerous tumor is surgically removed, a heated chemotherapy solution is placed in the abdominal cavity to kill any remaining cancer cells. Like HAI, because HIPEC directly targets the affected area, patients experience fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.

The new programs at MU Health Care will allow patients and caregivers to remain close to home during their treatment, instead of traveling to St. Louis or Kansas City.

“We are committed to moving cancer care forward by bringing innovative cancer treatments to patients here in central Missouri,” said Ellis Fischel Cancer Center director Dr. Gerhard Hildebrandt. “We believe local care is often the best care, which is why are so excited to be able to offer our patients these highly advanced cancer therapies right here at Ellis Fischel.”  

When patients complete their treatment at Ellis Fischel, their care team will work to create a seamless transition for patients back to their local cancer care providers, ensuring continuity and the best outcomes.

“Our top priority is to provide patients with the most effective oncology treatment, tailored to their needs,” Hildebrandt said. “We collaborate closely with our referral partners throughout the treatment process, so together we can offer our patients these highly advanced cancer therapies closer to home.”

Learn more about MU Health Care’s new cancer treatments here.

Media outlets: Click here for a photo of our abdominal cancer care team.
 

Contact: Eric Maze, mazee@health.missouri.edu, 573-884-3656