A specialized clinic dedicated to the assessment and treatment of abdominal membrane cancers has been launched at Apollo Hospitals Pune. Marked as the first unit of its kind in Maharashtra, the center focuses on personalized care strategies and comprehensive team-based evaluations for complex abdominal malignancies.
The facility treats advanced conditions involving the lining of the abdominal cavity, whether originating locally or spreading from other organs. Conditions managed at the clinic include ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal, and appendiceal tumors, as well as colorectal and select gastric cancers with peritoneal spread, pseudomyxoma peritonei, peritoneal mesothelioma, and recurrent diseases.
Patients undergo an integrated care process featuring expert consultations, tumor board reviews, tailored rehabilitation, nutritional support, and long-term survivorship management. Advanced procedures offered for select candidates include cytoreductive surgery—designed to clear visible abdominal tumors—and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which circulates heated anti-cancer medication inside the abdomen during surgery to eliminate residual microscopic cancer cells.
Highlighting the clinical approach, Dr. Snita Sinukumar, Consultant Surgical Oncologist and HIPEC Specialist, Apollo Hospitals Pune, said treatment selection is based on detailed evaluation and multidisciplinary review. She noted that cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC may have a role in appropriately selected patients and that care should continue after treatment through structured recovery, rehabilitation and longer-term survivorship support.
Emphasizing the importance of specialized intervention, Dr. Harit Kumar Chaturvedi, CEO and Clinical Head, Apollo Oncology Network, said peritoneal surface malignancies require specialised expertise and a team-based approach. He highlighted the importance of careful assessment, multidisciplinary review and matching treatment decisions to the needs of each patient.
Outlining the clinical setup, Dr. Rakesh Shah, COO and Unit Head, Apollo Hospitals Pune, said the clinic brings together specialists from Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, supported by advanced diagnostics and a dedicated tumour board. This multidisciplinary model is intended to coordinate assessment and treatment planning across specialties.
Operating as an initial hub, the Pune center aims to build a broad clinical collaboration and referral network across Western India. Specialized therapies such as cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC are tailored specifically to individual cases, as eligibility depends heavily on the cancer’s origin, disease stage, prior treatments, and thorough clinical evaluation.
This specialized clinic marks a step forward in regional cancer care by centralizing multi-specialty expertise for complex abdominal malignancies. By combining advanced surgical techniques like HIPEC with structured post-treatment support, the initiative provides patients across Western India with access to targeted, individualized treatment protocols.
(Photo courtesy: apollohospitals.com)