UT Southwestern Medical Center has marked a major milestone in ocular oncology by becoming the first institution in Texas—and the surrounding region—to offer the Hepzato Kit, a groundbreaking liver-directed therapy for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. This advancement represents a critical expansion of treatment access for a rare and aggressive form of ocular melanoma that spreads to the liver in up to 90% of metastatic cases.
The procedure, recently performed at UT Southwestern Medical Center, uses Hepzato Kit, an FDA-approved drug/device combination developed by Delcath Systems. Hepzato delivers high-dose melphalan chemotherapy directly to the entire liver using percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP), while an extracorporeal filtration system limits systemic exposure. This whole-organ approach distinguishes Hepzato from other liver-directed therapies that treat only isolated tumor segments.
Led by surgical oncologist Dr. Adrienne Shannon, UT Southwestern’s multidisciplinary team successfully treated a patient with multifocal hepatic metastases from uveal melanoma. The effort brought together surgical oncology, interventional radiology, anesthesiology, perfusion specialists, and medical oncology—highlighting the importance of coordinated expertise in managing complex ocular melanoma cases.
Clinical data supporting Hepzato are compelling. In the Phase 3 FOCUS trial, more than one-third of patients experienced tumor shrinkage, including complete responses in a subset of participants. One-year overall survival reached 80%, with many patients achieving meaningful progression-free survival. For a disease with historically limited options, these outcomes signal a significant step forward.
Equally important is what this means for patients in the region. Hepzato is available at fewer than three dozen centers nationwide due to its REMS requirements. UT Southwestern’s adoption of this therapy positions Texas as a new access point for patients who previously faced long travel or limited care options.
As UT Southwestern continues to grow its ocular melanoma and precision oncology programs, the introduction of Hepzato reinforces a broader commitment to innovation, access, and hope. For patients living with metastatic ocular melanoma, this development represents not just a new procedure—but a new opportunity.