Englewood Health Introduces Heated Chemotherapy for Treating Advanced Cancer

Specialized treatment delivers targeted chemotherapy to the abdomen for patients with advanced or hard-to-treat cancers

March 27, 2025 — Englewood Health has successfully performed its first hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure, a specialized treatment that delivers heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity to target advanced cancers. The procedure, performed by Cherif Boutros, MD, a surgical oncologist and the medical director of The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center at Englewood Health, marks a significant milestone for the hospital’s expanding surgical oncology program.

HIPEC is a highly specialized technique that combines surgery with heated chemotherapy to eliminate microscopic cancer cells that traditional systemic chemotherapy may not effectively reach. This advanced approach is often used for patients with advanced or recurrent cancers that have spread to the abdominal lining, including colorectal, ovarian, and appendiceal cancers, and for which there are limited treatment options available.

“HIPEC offers a powerful treatment option for select patients facing advanced cancers within the abdomen, and I am proud to bring this specialized expertise to Englewood Health,” said Dr. Boutros. “This approach allows us to deliver high-dose chemotherapy directly to the affected area while minimizing exposure to the rest of the body, potentially improving outcomes for our patients. The successful completion of our first case is just the beginning of what we can offer to patients in our community.”

With the introduction of this specialized procedure, Englewood Health continues to expand its comprehensive cancer care, ensuring patients have access to the latest, most effective therapies close to home.

For more information about cancer care at Englewood Health, visit englewoodhealth.org/cancer.