Arterial Chemotherapy Infusion of the Liver
Chemoembolization of the Liver (TACE)
Medical Author: Tse-Ling Fong, MD
Previous Medical Editor: Leslie J. Schoenfield, MD,
PhD
Medical Reviewer: Jay W. Marks, MD
Arterial chemotherapy infusion of the liver and chemoembolization of the
liver (transarterial chemoembolization or TACE) are similar procedures that are
used for the treatment of liver cancers. In both procedures, chemotherapy is
injected into the hepatic (liver) artery that supplies the liver tumor. The
difference between the two procedures is that in chemoembolization, additional
material is injected to block (embolize) the small branches of the hepatic
artery.
Arterial Chemotherapy Infusion of the Liver
Why is the chemotherapy
injected into the hepatic artery?
The normal liver gets its blood supply from two sources: the portal vein
(about 70%) and the hepatic artery (30%). Primary liver cancer, also known as
hepatoma or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) gets its blood exclusively from the
hepatic artery. Making use of this fact, investigators have delivered
chemotherapy agents selectively through the hepatic artery directly to the HCC
tumor. The theoretical advantage is that higher concentrations of the agents can
be delivered to the tumors without subjecting the patients to the systemic
toxicity of the agents.
Next: What are the side effects and benefits of
arterial chemotherapy infusion? »
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Last Editorial Review: 5/2/2007