Barts Health offers complex surgery to ovarian cancer patients for the first time in major breakthrough

Written by: Paul Thomas

13/02/2026

Barts Health NHS Trust is leading the way in treating ovarian cancer patients through a complex procedure, known as HIPEC, thanks to funding provided by Barts Charity.

HIPEC stands for Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). A heated chemotherapy solution is applied directly into the affected area to target any remaining cancer cells. By heating the chemotherapy, it becomes more effective at penetrating tissues and destroying cancer cells.

This is a highly skilled and complex process which takes 7-8 hours of continuous surgery. It is not appropriate for all ovarian cancer patients, and a lot of factors need to be considered, including spread of the cancer, fitness of the patient and any co-morbidities.

As it is a new process, it is currently only available for patients having chemotherapy at St Bartholomew's and surgery at The Royal London Hospital to begin with. However, the aim is to expand it to all those (for whom it is clinically appropriate) who are having chemotherapy across north east London prior to their surgery at The Royal London Hospital, so that even more patients can benefit.

James Dilley, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, Barts Health NHS Trust, explains: “Whilst in its early stages – we have just completed treatment for a small number of patients so far – the signs are promising.

“Although this is a complex and highly skilled procedure, HIPEC has the propensity to completely remove cancer which is invisible to the human eye, offering both extended life and an improved quality of life to ovarian cancer patients.”

A team of clinicians in hospital scrubs is standing in a hospital operating theatre for a team photo.

View from an ovarian cancer patient

Patients who have undergone HIPEC often speak of renewed hope and improved quality of life. While the procedure is complex and requires significant recovery time, many patients feel it is worth the journey for the chance to enjoy more meaningful years with loved ones.

One of the first ovarian cancer patients to undergo HIPEC at Barts Health speaks of her experience:

Amna, one of the first ovarian cancer patients to undergo HIPEC, speaks of her experience:

Amna says “I really can't praise them enough. The oncologists were incredible; they are compassionate, personable and determined to do everything they could do to fight the cancer in order to help me get better. I felt I had the best team taking care of me.”

“To come from such a low to such a high after the CRS-HIPEC surgery has been incredible. Thank you so much to everyone that was involved. I am so delighted to have that opportunity because we know so many hospitals don't offer that at all. I feel really privileged that it was available to me.”

Building on the successful work by Annamaria Minicozzi

Although this is being used to treat ovarian cancer patients for the first time, HIPEC is already being used successfully by Barts Health in treating peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer. This was also supported through funding from Barts Charity.

For many, this treatment has led to a better quality of life and, for some, a transformational prognosis. Early data shows that 64% of those treated were cancer-free at median follow-up time of 20 months.

Annamaria Minicozzi, Colorectal & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Barts Health NHS Trust, carries out this procedure at The Royal London Hospital.

She says “Here at The Royal London, there are all the specialities we need to support a HIPEC service, including medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, anaesthetics, intensivists, stoma therapy service, pain team, nutritional support team, colorectal, UGI and HPB surgeons, Urology and Gynae-Oncology. I am very proud to be one of the only surgeons in the country to perform this, and really hope we can expand its use, not just in north east London but across the whole country.”

Annamaria is one of a few peritoneal consultant surgeons in the country with this surgical expertise, which she gained at The Christie Hospital, one of the most prestigious HIPEC centres in Europe. Indeed, The Christie Hospital is one of only three hospitals in England offering this procedure and with a long-standing international reputation for research and innovation in this field.

Improving survival rates for ovarian cancer patients

Elly Brockbank, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist and Clinical Lead at Barts Health said “In recent audits, we have ranked number one for one-year and five-year survival rates for ovarian cancer in England. And thanks to Barts Charity funding, we are now able to offer this new, effective treatment for eligible ovarian cancer patients so that we can boost survival even further.

“We have put in place several important measures to make sure this treatment is safe, including clear Standard Operating Procedures, providing additional consultants and undergoing stringent checks throughout the process. We are delighted from the feedback from patients so far and look forward to supporting more patients in the future.”

Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive of Barts Charity, said: “We want people in East London to be able to access world-leading treatment on their doorsteps. That’s why we’ve supported the introduction and the expansion of HIPEC at Barts Health. This innovative treatment gives patients in East London the best chance of survival.

Further information on HIPEC

In summary, HIPEC is performed with the aim to cure the disease and to reduce the risks of recurrence. The benefits of this treatment are significant if all visible disease has been removed and the intraperitoneal chemotherapy given.

The results are remarkable also in terms of quality of life. Those who have this procedure report less symptoms and pain, allowing them to live more fulfilling lives.

HIPEC can offer:

Improved survival rates: For select patients, this treatment can significantly extend life expectancy compared to traditional treatments.
Targeted chemotherapy: By delivering chemotherapy directly to the abdomen, HIPEC minimizes the side effects often seen with systemic chemotherapy (chemotherapy that circulates through the entire body).
Enhanced quality of life: By reducing the tumor burden and using localized chemotherapy, patients often experience fewer symptoms and better overall well-being.
Hope for rare cancers: For cancers like pseudomyxoma peritonei, which have limited treatment options, CRS and HIPEC provide a potentially curative option.