Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure performed in interventional radiology to restrict a tumor's blood supply. Small embolic particles coated with chemotherapeutic drugs are injected selectively through a catheter into an artery directly supplying the tumor. These particles both block the blood supply and induce cytotoxicity, attacking the tumor in several ways.

The radiotherapeutic analogue (combining radiotherapy with embolization) is called radioembolization or selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT).

Clinical trials determine what type of therapy is generally most successful for treating any particular type of tumor. Panels of physicians, such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, determine what therapies to recommend for a given tumor type based on the outcomes of these trials. Although in theory TACE can be applied to any tumor, currently TACE is used primarily for tumors of the liver.