On Friday, April 17, a landmark collaboration agreement was signed between Dr. Baofa Yu, Pan Am Cancer Treatment Centers, and Core Hospital in Tijuana, paving the way for an innovative therapy to reach patients in the region.
What is UMIPIC?
The treatment, known as UMIPIC (Ultra-Minimally Invasive Personalized Intratumoral Chemoimmunotherapy), blends principles from traditional Chinese medicine with modern medical practices. It represents a trilateral international effort involving China, Mexico, and San Diego, with laboratory support based in San Diego.
UMIPIC is a form of immunosurgery that administers medication directly into the target tumor under local anesthesia. The entire procedure takes only about 20 minutes. Because the drug is delivered with minimal leakage, side effects are rare. The most common being a mild fever that typically lasts just a few hours.
The treatment was pioneered by Dr. Baofa Yu, a Chinese physician with over three decades of experience. Dr. Yu has treated more than 30,000 patients, authored over 60 scientific publications, and founded three private hospitals including one dedicated to serving low-income communities.
According to reports, UMIPIC has been successfully applied to cases of breast, lung, pancreatic, and liver cancer, among others, and has been shown to double patient life expectancy.
With the signing of this agreement, Tijuana is set to become a hub for cutting-edge cancer immunotherapy protocols. Dr. Javier López, representative of Pan American Cancer Treatment Centers, shared his enthusiasm:
“This agreement represents a commitment by both institutions to join forces in bringing technology and expertise that has already been developed in other countries. Our goal is to offer new alternatives to patients who currently have limited options.”
Once the necessary regulatory processes are completed, UMIPIC will be available at Core Hospital in Tijuana, offering renewed hope and expanded treatment possibilities for cancer patients in the region.
