Regional Chemotherapy

Regional chemotherapy: What to expect

Regional chemotherapy procedure delivers treatments directly to the tumor (instead of through the skin). This direct approach enables us to safely use higher doses that are sometimes necessary for advanced cancers. Regional chemotherapy procedures also typically have fewer side effects because they spare more healthy cells.

Mays Cancer Center offers regional cancer therapy in addition to traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy (oncology). The right one for you depends on the cancer type and your medical needs. Read more about the types of regional chemotherapy.

How to talk to your doctor about regional chemotherapy

This treatment is typically for advanced cancers that have spread to other areas. You may also benefit from it if you are ineligible for standard treatments, like cancers too big for surgery. 

We explain whether regional chemotherapy treatment is appropriate for your situation and how it fits into a comprehensive treatment plan. You may benefit from other treatments before or after regional treatment.

Why choose us for regional chemotherapy? 

Highlights of our program include: 

• Expertise: Mays Cancer Center is one of approximately 50 programs nationwide offering regional chemotherapy. We use approved methods to deliver safe, effective treatment and maintain low complication rates.
• Comprehensive care: Regional chemotherapy often shrinks tumors and may improve your eligibility for additional treatments, like surgery. You can receive nearly any therapy you may need from our program. Explore cancer treatments. 
• Innovation: Regional chemotherapy specialists are advancing the field through research and clinical trials. We participate in international studies to help standardize treatment methods so that more patients can benefit. You may be able to participate in these efforts through clinical trials.

Types of regional chemotherapy 

Options available at Mays Cancer Center include:

• Hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy: A small, implantable pump delivers chemotherapy directly to cancerous growths in the liver. We place the pump in your abdomen and connect it to one of the liver’s main blood vessels. It remains in place permanently but only delivers chemotherapy when you need it. 
• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC): We apply a concentrated dose of heated chemotherapy to the abdominal cavity after surgery to remove visible cancer growths. HIPEC removes trace levels of cancer and is for cancers that have spread to the abdominal cavity lining (peritoneum). You may also benefit from HIPEC if you have cancer affecting the appendix, ovaries, colon or rectum. 
• Isolated limb perfusion: This option directs chemotherapy to skin and soft tissue cancers affecting an arm or leg. Treatment involves isolating blood supply to the affected area and circulating a high dose of chemotherapy. You may benefit from this treatment if you have advanced melanoma or sarcoma.
• Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC): This therapy is used to treat advanced melanoma when surgery is not an option. Treatment involves injecting a virus, specifically the cold sore virus, into the cancer cells to infect and kill them. It's also known as Imlygic and oncolytic virus therapy.

Cancers we treat using regional chemotherapy

You may be eligible for this option if you have an advanced or complex case of: 

• Liver cancer, including cancers that form in this organ and ones that start elsewhere in the body and spread to the liver
• Melanoma, a fast-growing skin cancer
• Neuroendocrine tumors, which occur in cells that make hormones 
• Peritoneal cancer, which affects the abdominal cavity lining (peritoneum)
• Sarcomas, a group of cancers affecting bones and soft tissue