Winston-Salem, N.C. -- A revolutionary new treatment for patients suffering from abdominal cancer will soon be available to doctors nationwide thanks to a partnership between Wake Forest University School of Medicine and IDT, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Biocontrol Technology of Pittsburgh, Pa
New equipment called ThermoChem-HT? and associated disposables have been developed for use with a therapy called Intraperitoneal Heated Chemotherapy (IPHC). IPHC was developed at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center by Dr. Brian Loggie, a surgical oncologist, and his research colleague Ronald Fleming, Pharm D., research assistant professor of internal medicine, hematology and oncology.
Loggie is only one of a handful of doctors from around the world specializing in this procedure, which is extending life for many who have few, if any, treatment options left.
Beth Fordham-Meier, director of Technology Transfer and Industry Relations at Wake Forest University, said, "This device will allow us to standardize the procedure and educate others on the utilization of the specialized device, allowing more physicians to provide this life-extending treatment to patients around the world."
Before the procedure, Loggie surgically removes all visible cancerous growths from the patient's abdomen and pelvis.
"Cancerous growths are removed as completely as possible and all spaces and lining surfaces are opened to enhance exposure for the IPHC procedure," Loggie said. IPHC is then administered as part of the operative procedure.
"The abdomen is perfused with a gently heated physiologic solution containing cancer fighting chemotherapy agents that wash over all the lining surfaces," he said. "This permits direct contact of very high cancer drug concentrations with remaining cancer cells. Heating is used to increase the effectiveness of this interaction."
Five-year data show patients undergoing this treatment live
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Contact: Rae Beasley, or Jim Steele
rabeasle@wfubmc.edu
336-716-4587
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
18-Mar-1999