About Us

The Appendix Cancer PMP Research Foundation (ACPMP) is an IRS-designated 501(c)3 charitable organization (EIN: 26-2890160), founded in 2008 by a community of individuals affected by appendix cancer and the related condition, pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).

The Appendix Cancer PMP Research Foundation is dedicated to:

1. Funding and supporting research to discover new treatments for appendiceal cancer and PMP, with the hope of one day finding a cure for all.
2. Funding and supporting education for healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and families to stay current with the evolving science and to increase awareness about this rare cancer.

Appendiceal cancer and the related condition, pseudomyxoma peritonei, are rare, but their impact is devastating. Because the symptoms are common across many diseases but appendix cancer is so uncommon, patients are frequently misdiagnosed with conditions such as ovarian cysts or ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, hernias, irritable bowel syndrome, and a host of others.

Radiologists and pathologists may go their entire careers without encountering a single case. Many general surgeons, gynecological oncologists, and medical oncologists lack exposure to the specialized care these diseases require. The result: delayed diagnoses, suboptimal treatment, and patients who never learn about the specialists and centers best equipped to help them.

The development of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has transformed outcomes for many patients, and survival rates continue to improve. But we are not yet where we need to be, and without coordinated, well-funded research, progress will remain slow.

Before ACPMP was established in 2008, no centralized organization existed to fund appendiceal cancer research objectively. Private donations went primarily to individual physicians rather than toward competitive, science-driven grant programs. From the patient's perspective, research often appeared redundant or theoretical, with little coordination between researchers and slow movement toward improving treatment.

The Appendix Cancer PMP Research Foundation was created to change that.

All of our funding comes from:

• Individual donations
• Donations made in honor or memory of loved ones
• Fundraisers created by patients, friends, and families. Find out how to help.
• Donor-Advised Funds and Foundation Grants 
• Matching Donations. See if your employer will match your donation.

We want you to feel confident that your donation is secure and well-managed. View our IRS designation letter, annual filings, and standards of conduct on our Financial Statements page.