Hernando Salcedo, an 83-year-old with an active lifestyle, suddenly experienced abdominal swelling in May 2025. Despite facing typical age-related hip pain, the swelling was unexpected and without an obvious cause.
After consulting his doctor, an endoscopic ultrasound failed to pinpoint the source of his discomfort. Referral to a gastroenterologist resulted in an MRI, and two days later, Salcedo faced a serious diagnosis: Stage III pancreatic cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, patients with this diagnosis survive only a few months on average, with a five-year survival rate of 15%.
Surgery might remove the cancer, but Salcedo wasn’t eligible. Aggressive chemotherapy was the only viable treatment option, aimed at prolonging life rather than curing the disease. Beginning chemotherapy at the Miami Cancer Institute in July 2025, Salcedo suffered severe side effects—loss of appetite, weight loss, and diminished activity, drastically changing his everyday life.
Salcedo’s case was later reviewed by an expert panel at Miami Cancer Institute, specializing in innovative treatments and clinical trials. Dr. Ripal Gandhi, Salcedo’s oncologist and radiologist, reassessed his case. The panel concluded that Salcedo qualified for a clinical trial of a new medical device developed by RenovoRX. This device, already approved by the FDA since 2014, refines chemotherapy delivery by targeting pancreatic tumors more accurately.
Traditional intravenous chemotherapy spreads through the entire body, but pancreatic tumors often have dense tissue and limited blood supply, hindering effective drug delivery. The RenovoRX system uses a catheter with balloons to precisely deliver chemotherapy, isolating blood flow near the tumor. Research from the World Congress of GI Cancer Patients in 2023 indicated this method reduced adverse effects by 65% compared to traditional techniques and increased survival by six months.
The trial seemed promising to Salcedo, who readily agreed to participate. Standard chemotherapy was administered for two months, followed by radiation. Imaging indicated stabilized cancer, enabling him to proceed with the catheter method.
Salcedo was part of those randomized to receive treatment through the RenovoCath system. Over four months, he underwent the procedure bi-weekly and described the experience as vastly improved, absent of pain and nausea. “This treatment fixed my life,” he remarked.
Salcedo wasn’t alone in feeling better. Gandhi mentioned another patient in the trial who survived four years post-diagnosis, an unusual occurrence with Stage III pancreatic cancer. Gandhi emphasized the objective was to extend life expectancy while ensuring quality of life, an aim met successfully for Salcedo.
According to RenovoRX, ongoing research is anticipated to provide conclusive trial data in late 2027 regarding their device’s efficacy for Stage III pancreatic cancer.
Now a year into his diagnosis, Salcedo remains stable, with no cancer spread. His improved condition allows him to engage in family events and travel, including dancing at his nephew’s wedding in Colombia. He’s resumed his morning walks and envisions more travel.
Salcedo and his son Mauricio appreciate this unforeseen bonus time. While realistic about the prognosis, Mauricio values that Salcedo is energetic and planning ahead. “This feels like you won the lottery.”