Heat chemotherapy, also known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), is a cancer treatment that uses heated chemotherapy drugs that are administered directly into the peritoneal cavity. The word "heat" is spelled using the IPA phonetic transcription as /hiːt/. The 'h' makes a /h/ sound, the 'ea' makes a long /i:/ sound, and the 't' makes a /t/ sound. This treatment is used for certain cancers that have spread to the peritoneal cavity, such as ovarian and colorectal cancer.
Heat chemotherapy, also known as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), is a specialized technique used in cancer treatment. It involves the administration of chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity, followed by the application of heat. This localized delivery of heated chemotherapy allows for an enhanced therapeutic effect.
The procedure begins with a surgical process known as cytoreductive surgery, where visible tumors within the abdominal area are removed as much as possible. Following this surgery, a heated solution of chemotherapy drugs is circulated throughout the abdominal cavity for a specific duration. The purpose of increasing the temperature is to improve drug penetration, as well as enhance the drug's cytotoxic effect on remaining cancer cells.
The goal of heat chemotherapy is to target cancer cells directly within the abdominal cavity, reducing systemic side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy methods. The increased temperature helps to disrupt the cell membranes of cancer cells, making them more susceptible to the effects of the drugs.
Heat chemotherapy is commonly used for the treatment of certain types of advanced abdominal cancers, such as ovarian, colorectal, and appendiceal cancers. It is typically performed as part of a multimodal treatment approach, which may include surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic chemotherapy.
Overall, heat chemotherapy aims to maximize treatment efficacy and reduce tumor burden within the abdominal cavity, potentially providing improved outcomes and quality of life for patients with advanced abdominal cancers.
The term "heat chemotherapy" does not have a well-defined etymology since it seems to be a combination of two distinct concepts: "heat" and "chemotherapy".
1. Heat: The word "heat" derives from the Old English word "hǣtu" and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word *haitīną. Its ultimate origins are uncertain, but it is linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *kayd- meaning "to gleam, burn", which also gave rise to words like "hot" and "ignite".
2. Chemotherapy: The word "chemotherapy" combines the Greek roots "chēmía" (χημία) meaning "chemical" and "therapéia" (θεραπεία) meaning "healing or treatment".