early times report
Jammu, Oct 15: American Oncology Institute (AOI) at ASCOMS Jammu has achieved a significant breakthrough in complex cancer treatment by successfully performing a Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure on a patient with advanced ovarian cancer. This accomplishment highlights AOI Jammu’s growing capabilities in delivering high-end cancer care and offering sophisticated treatment options that were previously accessible only in select tertiary centers across India.
HIPEC is an advanced therapeutic technique that involves the surgical removal of visible tumors from the abdominal cavity followed by the infusion of heated chemotherapy directly into the peritoneal cavity. HIPEC has demonstrated promising outcomes for specific cancers that have spread within the abdomen, including ovarian, colorectal, and appendiceal cancers, as well as rare conditions like pseudomyxoma peritonei and mesothelioma.
The recent case at AOI Jammu involved a 45-year-old woman who had been experiencing nonspecific abdominal symptoms and had undergone several inconclusive investigations elsewhere. Upon presentation at AOI Jammu, she was evaluated thoroughly, including a PET-CT scan and biopsy, which revealed a diagnosis of high-grade ovarian cancer with extensive peritoneal involvement. Her case was managed by a multidisciplinary team of oncologists at AOI Jammu.
Dr. Satyankar Gupta, Senior Medical Oncologist at AOI Jammu, initiated neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the tumor burden. After three cycles, repeat imaging showed a significant response, and the patient was deemed suitable for surgery. The complex procedure was led by Dr. Avinash Rajra, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, and involved meticulous removal of tumors from multiple sites within the abdominal cavity. Following the cytoreductive phase, the surgical team proceeded with HIPEC, circulating the heated chemotherapy agent for 90 minutes. The surgery was uneventful, and the patient had a smooth post-operative recovery, being discharged in stable condition within a week.
Speaking about the case, Dr. Avinash Rajra commented, “HIPEC is a game-changing option for patients with advanced intra-abdominal cancers. In selected cases like this one, it allows us to offer a potentially curative treatment in a situation that might have otherwise been considered palliative. It requires careful coordination, surgical precision, and institutional readiness, and I’m proud that our team at AOI Jammu is delivering that level of care.”
The procedure was carried out with critical support from the anesthesiology team, including Dr. Atul Sharma and Dr. Rajesh Mahajan, who ensured intraoperative stability and smooth postoperative recovery—key to the success of such high-risk interventions.
Dileep Mangsuli, Chairman, CTSI South Asia, stated, “At AOI, our commitment has always been to bring advanced, globally benchmarked cancer treatments to every region we serve. The successful delivery of this complex HIPEC procedure is a testament to the clinical depth, infrastructure, and patient-centric focus of our Jammu unit.”
Dr. Neeraj Bishnoi, Regional Chief Operating Officer of AOI North Region, added, “This achievement highlights our readiness to manage complex oncological cases with outcomes that are on par with leading national centers. Our focus remains on expanding access to cutting-edge treatment protocols while maintaining the highest standards of care.”
Over the last decade, HIPEC has gained prominence in India as more oncologists and surgical teams gain experience in its application. Although it is still a relatively niche procedure, studies have demonstrated that with proper case selection and expert execution, HIPEC can significantly extend survival and improve quality of life in patients with peritoneal surface malignancies. As of now, only a limited number of centers across the country are performing CRS-HIPEC procedures, making AOI Jammu’s successful implementation an important step for cancer care in North India.
By enabling such high-complexity procedures locally, AOI Jammu is helping reduce the need for patients to travel to metropolitan hubs for advanced treatments. It reflects the institute’s growing surgical capabilities and its broader mission to deliver comprehensive, evidence-based cancer care to underserved regions. This milestone also reinforces AOI Jammu’s commitment to continually advancing the standard of care, investing in training, infrastructure, and team-based excellence.
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