Search Results (3)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common tumor entities worldwide and a common cause of cancer-associated death. Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) thereby constitute a severe life-limiting factor. The therapy of CRLM presents a major challenge and surgical resection as well as systemic chemotherapy remain the first-line treatment options. Over the years several locoregional, vascular- and image-based treatments offered by interventional radiologists have emerged when conventional therapies fail, or metastases recurrence occurs. Among such options is the conventional/traditional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) by local injection of a combination of chemotherapeutic- and embolic-agents. A similar treatment is the more recent irinotecan-loaded drug-eluting beads TACE (DEBIRI-TACE), which are administered using the same approach. Numerous studies have shown that these different types of chemoembolization can be applied in different clinical settings safely. Furthermore, such treatments can also be combined with other local or systemic therapies. Unfortunately, due to the incoherent patient populations of studies investigating TACE in CRLM, critics state that the definite evidence supporting positive patient outcomes is still lacking. In the following article we review studies on conventional and DEBIRI-TACE. Although highly dependent on the clinical setting, prior therapies and generally the study population, cTACE and DEBIRI-TACE show comparable results. We present the most representative studies on the different chemoembolization procedures and compare the results. Although there is compelling evidence for both approaches, further studies are necessary to determine which patients profit most from these therapies. In conclusion, we determine TACE to be a viable option in CRLM in different clinical settings. Nevertheless, a multidisciplinary approach is desired to offer patients the best possible care. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of 40 µm and 75 µm calibrated irinotecan-eluting beads (DEBIRI-TACE) for the treatment of colorectal cancer metastases. We conducted a retrospective review of 36 patients with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer who were treated with DEBIRI-TACE between 2017 to 2020. Patients who received at least one session of DEBIRI were included in our analysis. A total of 105 DEBIRI sessions were completed. 86% of patients (n = 31) underwent one round of treatment, 14% of patients (n = 5) underwent two distinct rounds of treatment. The majority of patients were discharged the next day (92%, n = 33 patients) with no 30-day post-DEBIRI mortality. Five high-grade adverse events occurred, including longer stay for pain management (n = 2), postembolization syndrome requiring readmission (n = 2), and liver abscess (n = 1). The average survival from diagnosis of metastatic disease was 33.3 months (range 11–95, median 28). Nine of 36 patients are still alive (December 2020) and have an average follow-up time of 36.8 months from T0 (range 12–63, median 39). Small particle DEBIRI is safe and well-tolerated in the salvage setting, with outcomes comparable to that of larger bead sizes. Full article

Purpose: Transarterial chemoembolization with drug eluting beads (DEB-TACE) loaded with irinotecan despite having proven efficacy in the treatment of unresectable liver metastases in the course of colorectal cancer (CRC) does not have an established consistent method. In particular, there are discrepancies in the branch level at which microspheres are administered. Lobar embolization supplies microspheres to all vessels supplying a metastatic lesion but exposes the entire liver parenchyma to negative effects from microsphere irinotecan. Superselective chemoembolization compromises healthy liver parenchyma less but may omit small vessels supplying metastatic lesions. Objective: Assessment of the risk of complications and the severity of postembolization syndromes with CRC metastatic liver lesion chemoembolization with irinotecan-loaded microspheres, according to branch level of chemoembolization. Patients and methods: The analysis included 49 patients (27 female/22 male) with liver metastases in the course of CRC, who underwent 192 chemoembolization treatments (mean 3.62 per patient) with microspheres loaded with 100 mg irinotecan. The procedures were performed according to an adopted schema: alternating the right and left lobe of the liver at 3-week intervals. The severity of postembolization syndrome (PES) and the presence of complications were assessed according to the branch level of chemoembolization; microspheres were administered at the branch level of lobar, segmental, or subsegmental arteries. Assessment of adverse events was performed according to the standards of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, Version 5.0. Results: The median survival of all patients from the start of chemoembolization was 13 months. With 192 chemoembolization sessions, 14 (7.3%) serious complications were found. The study showed no significant relationship between the branch level of embolizate administration and the presence of complications (p = 0.2307). Postembolization syndrome was diagnosed after 102 chemoembolization treatments, i.e., 53.1% of treatments. A significant correlation was found between the severity of the postembolization syndrome and the branch level of embolization treatment (p = 0.00303). The mean PES severity increased from subsegmental through segmental to lobar administration. Conclusion: Chemoembolization using Irinotecan-loaded microspheres was relatively well tolerated by patients and gave a low risk of significant complications, which did not change with the branch level of microsphere administration. However, an association was found between the branch level of chemoembolization and the severity of postembolization syndrome. Further research is needed to determine the most effective DEB-TACE chemoembolization technique. Full article