Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center has become the first hospital in New Jersey to offer a new, targeted treatment for pancreatic cancer using RenovoRx’s Trans-Arterial Micro-Perfusion (TAMP™) therapy platform.
Led by Dr. Gregory J. Tiesi, medical director of hepatobiliary surgery at the academic medical center, the oncology team has successfully treated its first patients with TAMP — a novel approach that delivers chemotherapy directly to tumors through the arterial wall, reducing the harmful side effects of systemic treatment.
“This allows us to provide precision therapy directly to the site of the cancer, improving tolerability and potentially expanding treatment options for patients with advanced disease,” said Dr. Tiesi. “We continue to offer the full spectrum of pancreatic cancer care — surgery, radiation, and traditional chemotherapy — but TAMP gives us another tool for patients who may not be candidates for surgery or more aggressive treatments.”
The RenovoCath, an FDA-cleared catheter device, enables this localized delivery method. It is already in use for applications such as vessel occlusion, arteriography, and chemotherapy infusion.
One of the first patients, 51-year-old Christopher Goodwin of Brigantine, said the therapy has given him new hope. “After multiple rounds of chemo and radiation, I was told I had no other options,” Goodwin said. “But this therapy lets me continue treatment close to home, and I’m grateful for that.”
TAMP is the latest in a series of innovations introduced by Jersey Shore’s oncology team. In 2023, Dr. Tiesi began offering hepatic artery infusion pumps for liver cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma and colorectal metastases.
“This is another step forward in our ability to personalize care and improve outcomes for patients with limited treatment options,” said Dr. Anthony Scholer, a surgical oncologist at the center. “The ability to preserve quality of life while delivering potent therapy is critical.”
Hospital leadership said offering TAMP reflects Jersey Shore’s broader strategy to expand access to cutting-edge cancer treatments in South Jersey.
“We’re committed to offering the most advanced therapies available, and TAMP reflects that commitment,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., regional president for the Southern Market at Hackensack Meridian Health. “Through our affiliation with the John Theurer Cancer Center, patients also have access to stem cell transplants, CAR-T cell therapy, and early-phase clinical trials.”
