Minimally Invasive Treatment for Tumors
Tumor embolization is a minimally invasive procedure in
which a small, thin tube (catheter) is guided into the feeding arteries of a
tumor in order either to shut down the blood supply to the tumor or deliver
tumor-killing therapy directly to the tumor.
Several different therapies are available and can be
customized depending on the type and location of the tumors. For instance, uterine
fibroids respond well to embolization with small particles that block off the
blood flow to the fibroids. Certain liver tumors respond best to embolization
with small beads infused with chemotherapy. Other liver tumors respond well to
embolization with radioactive particles that kill tumors with radiation.
Embolization has several benefits, such as:
- Relieving symptoms, such as heavy bleeding in
women who have uterine fibroids
- Shrinking tumors to allow surgical removal
- Reducing blood loss during surgery to remove a
tumor
- Slowing tumor growth when surgery or
chemotherapy are not possible
Our interventional radiologists and cancer specialists have
the experience and training to provide the most advanced techniques for tumor
embolization. Our teams participate in the latest research to develop new
therapies for minimally invasive tumor treatment.
Conditions We Treat With Tumor Embolization
Our doctors use embolization to treat both cancerous and
benign tumors, such as:
Cancer tumors (particularly in the liver or kidney)
- Hepatocellular cancer
- Metastatic disease to the liver, typically from the colon or
pancreas
- Renal cell cancer
Noncancerous tumors- Uterine
fibroids: Noncancerous tumors that develop in and around the uterus
- Angiomyolipoma of the kidney
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Hepatic adenoma
Tumor Embolization Treatments
The doctor makes a small incision in the groin area to
access a blood vessel and carefully threads a catheter into the vessel. The
doctor then injects dye into the vessel through the catheter so that the vessel
shows up on imaging.
Using imaging such as ultrasound or
fluoroscopy (X-ray video), the doctor guides the catheter to the area to be treated.
The doctor then inserts medication or agents such as tiny plastic particles,
foam, or tiny metal coils to seal off blood vessels that feed the tumor.
We also offer embolization procedures that specifically
treat cancerous tumors, such as:
- Bland embolization,
where small beads are injected into the tumor vessel to stop the flow of
blood to the tumor
- Chemoembolization,
which sends tiny beads infused with chemotherapy through a blood vessel
directly into a tumor
- Radioembolization,
which is radiation therapy using tiny beads that have a radioactive isotope on
them to directly treat tumors
What to Expect
Information about each procedure will be provided during
consultation, as well as details about medications that might need to be
stopped prior to the procedure (usually blood-thinning medications).
Each procedure is typically performed with conscious
(moderate) sedation, which allows patients to maintain their own breathing
without the use of a ventilator. While patients might feel sleepy, they will be
able to respond to questions or follow commands (such a taking a deep breath)
during the procedure.
Patients undergoing radioembolization should expect to
remain in the hospital several hours post-procedure for monitoring but are
typically discharged the same day. Patients undergoing bland or
chemoembolization or uterine fibroid embolization should expect to stay in the
hospital overnight.
Patients undergoing embolization procedures often describe
mild pain and fatigue for about a week. In most cases, normal activity can
resume in one to two weeks.
Clinical Trials
As one of the nation’s top academic medical centers, UT
Southwestern offers a number of clinical trials aimed at
improving the outcomes of patients. Current embolization studies include:
A Phase Ib/II Study of LEE011 and
Chemoembolization in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Humanitarian Device Exemption Treatment
Protocol of TheraSphere for Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Phase 3 Randomized, Open-Label Study
Comparing Pexa-Vec (Vaccinia GM CSF / Thymidine Kinase-Deactivated Virus)
Followed by Sorafenib Versus Sorafenib in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular
Carcinoma (HCC) Without Prior Systemic Therapy