University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is an international leader in health care. Its UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is home to one of the nation’s top mesothelioma cancer treatment centers. The Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center provides comprehensive care with experts in areas such as surgery, radiation, and pain management.

About the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

At UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, which is one of the nation’s top cancer facilities, patients receive the most effective, personalized, and up-to-date clinical care in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

UPMC is a large-scale integrated network of cancer physicians and health care specialists. Notably, it is home to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, which offers treatments to Pennsylvanians with a rare cancer called mesothelioma.

Here’s why mesothelioma patients choose UPMC Hillman Cancer Center:

One of the most extensive cancer care networks in the country
The only facility in western Pennsylvania with the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) elite designation of Comprehensive Cancer Center
National rankings in U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll
Ranked #1 hospital in Pittsburgh by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 “Best Hospitals” series
Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as having one of the nation’s best cancer programs
Develops individualized treatment plans for each patient
Offers access to clinical trials through its research center

Use our Free Doctor Match for help finding doctors at top facilities like the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center near you.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Several mesothelioma treatment options are available at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. As one of the most experienced and extensive treatment facilities, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center creates a comprehensive treatment plan for each case.

Depending on the patient, mesothelioma treatment options could include:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Clinical trials

“I do tell mesothelioma patients that this is the biggest battle they’re going to be in. But we certainly have patients who are alive years later.”

– Dr. James Pingpank, surgical oncologist at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Doctors at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center can recommend specific treatments depending on a patient’s unique needs.

Mesothelioma Surgical Options at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center surgeons are developing groundbreaking surgical options using chemoperfusion, a highly specialized treatment offered at only a few facilities in the country.

Pleural mesothelioma surgeries include:

Extrepleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is surgery that removes the lung closest to the cancer, the pleura, and cancer tumors
Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) to remove the pleura and all cancer tumors

Peritoneal mesothelioma surgeries include:

Cytoreduction with HIPEC, where cancer is removed from the abdominal cavity before doctors apply chemotherapy to kill unseen cancer cells
Peritonectomy surgery to remove the cancerous part of the abdominal lining

Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center offers a full range of chemotherapy medications, which help to break up cancer cells. Notably, doctors can apply HIPEC, which is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, after peritoneal mesothelioma surgery to help patients live longer.

Chemotherapy may also be used by itself to destroy mesothelioma cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma

The Department of Radiation Oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has extensive experience using leading-edge approaches to treat mesothelioma. These therapies include intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT).

Use our free checklist of Questions to Ask a Mesothelioma Doctor to find the best specialist and treatments for your case.

UPMC’s Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center

The Mesothelioma Specialty Care Center at UPMC was introduced in 2011 and focuses on providing the best possible therapies for mesothelioma patients. The Center has experts in treating pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

The treatment approach at UPMC includes diagnostic measures, imaging scans, and biopsy tests, which help identify the patient’s cancer stage and cell type.

A team of doctors works together to devise a customized treatment and health care plan for each patient. This includes working with primary care physicians and the mesothelioma patient’s local oncologist.

The team at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center specializes in:

Medical and radiation oncology
Pain management
Pathology
Pulmonology
Radiology
Thoracic surgical oncology

Extensive planning is the key to UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Patients should visit the facility just one week after the initial consultation to start treatment as soon as possible. A coordinator will guide them through the process, schedule appointments, and serve as a liaison between them and the treatment team.

“Just because this has been predominantly a surgical disease, we try and coordinate everything through for all these types of cases through one office. And for us, it fits through the surgical office, and that way, there’s one entry point into the system for patients.”

– Dr. James Pingpank, surgical oncologist at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Mesothelioma Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center’s mesothelioma doctors include:

Dr. Neil Christie
Dr. Renee Levesque
Dr. James Luketich
Dr. Daniel Petro
Dr. James Pingpank
Dr. Matthew Schuchert
Dr. Liza Villaruz

Use our Free Mesothelioma Doctor Match to find top doctors, like the ones at UPMC, who can treat you.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

As an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, UPMC participates in clinical trials, where new mesothelioma treatments are studied and safely offered to patients.

Clinical trials are important in cancer care because they help:

Find better ways to treat cancer
Identify new technology to invest in
Pioneer new cancer treatments
Reduce the hardships cancer causes

Since research studies at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center are continuously being performed, one of the best ways to find out what mesothelioma clinical trials are currently offered at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is to visit the website.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Patient Experience

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s health system is known for its excellent patient experience. This includes providing patients with convenience, comfort, support, and a caring and welcoming environment.

UPMC is a patient-centered medical home that builds collaborative partnerships between the patient, the family, and the medical team, including care managers who help coordinate the care plan.

“A passion for innovation lies at the heart of UPMC’s success. UPMC’s unique strategy of combining clinical and research excellence with business-like discipline translates into high-quality patient care for both western Pennsylvanians and the global community.”
– University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

At UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the team takes pride in its integrated capabilities, such as world-class clinical and technological innovation, research into mesothelioma and other cancers, and education. This keeps patients at the forefront of everything they do and creates a model that ensures proper care for everyone.

Each UPMC health care provider is committed to patient safety and providing reliable and consistent care. UPMC fosters a “culture of safety,” with communication and transparency being key. This helps create a partnership for the patients and the medical team to feel comfortable.

Connect With the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, with its patient-centered focus, recognizes that early detection and prompt treatment are essential for managing mesothelioma and other cancers so those affected can live longer.

For mesothelioma patients, this means developing personalized treatment plans because each type, stage, and location requires a unique treatment strategy.

The Mesothelioma Hope team can help you or a loved one connect with specialists at top facilities like UPMC, so you can get the treatments needed to live longer. Call (866) 608-8933 or contact us now to learn more.