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A groundbreaking non-invasive therapy, B-TACE (Balloon Transarterial Chemoembolisation), is demonstrating significant promise for patients battling hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer in India.
HCC poses a substantial health burden in the country, with over 30,000 new local cases diagnosed annually, ranking as the 10th most common cancer. Its high mortality rates rank it as the eighth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in India. Risk factors include cirrhosis, hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol, smoking, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Dr. Amar Mukund, a Professor at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in Delhi, highlighted the potential of B-TACE in delivering chemotherapy drugs precisely to the tumor site. This innovative therapy, an advancement from TACE (Transcatheter Arterial Chemo-Embolisation), enables targeted drug delivery while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Compared to traditional methods, B-TACE shows enhanced response rates, reducing the necessity for repeat treatments. Its efficacy offers a chance to preserve liver function and potentially achieve complete tumor death, even in tumors up to 5 cm in size, moving closer to a cure.
Dr. Mukund emphasized the suitability of B-TACE for tumors ranging from 3cm to 7cm, hinting at its potential application for other primary tumors like cholangiocarcinoma and benign tumors like hemangioma in the future.
However, limitations exist, including its cost, which is nearly double that of conventional TACE using regular microcatheters. Additionally, B-TACE isn’t recommended for tumors exceeding 8 cm due to severe side effects and complications, whereas TACE can be an option for larger tumors.
Despite challenges, the promising results of B-TACE offer optimism. Dr. Mukund expressed excitement about its potential but stressed the need for further assessment, especially in Indian patients with HCC. He sees this advancement as a significant step in advancing liver cancer treatment.
