Novel device for high-dose chemotherapy delivery during transarterial chemoembolization

Systemic chemotherapy has been associated with damage to healthy tissue and in some cases induction of secondary malignancies. Transarterial chemo-embolization (TACE) is a commonly used procedure in hepatic malignancies designed to reduce the systemic dose. TACE therapy involves administration of chemotherapy directly to the liver via a catheter which is inserted through the femoral artery to the hepatic artery that directly feeds the hepatic tumor. The blood supply to the tumor is then embolized following chemotherapy to further increase the dose to the tumor tissue. Nonetheless, even with TACE up to 50% of administered doxorubicin (Dox) passes directly through hepatic tumors into the systemic circulation. To further increase tumor dose while reducing systemic exposure, UCSF scientists have developed a novel catheter incorporating a chemotherapy filter that is positioned transiently during TACE so as to bind Dox that has passed through the tumor before it enters the systemic circulation. David Fung david.fung@ucsf.edu 415-502-1640