A Look at Our Novel Cancer Treatments

If you or a loved one is suffering from cancer, you may have heard of radiofrequency ablation or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in Houston. These minimally invasive procedures can be effective in treating certain types of cancer.

Radiofrequency ablation is used most commonly for liver tumors. Using ultrasound guidance, an interventional radiologist places a needle electrode through the skin and into the tumor under local anesthesia and light sedation. An electrical current then passes through the electrodes and causes the tissues to heat up, destroying the cancerous tumor. This treatment can be used in patients who are unable to undergo surgery or who have small tumors.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure which decreases the blood supply to a cancerous tumor by delivering tiny beads which may also be laden with chemotherapy agents directly to the arteries feeding the tumor. This causes the tumor to eventually shrink and die. Like radiofrequency ablation for cancerous tumors, TACE is often used in liver cancers in patients unable to undergo surgical resection.

At Premier Vein & Vascular Center, our team of physicians are able to use this highly specialized form of vascular treatment to treat cancers in a minimally invasive way. Radiofrequency ablation works by targeting the cancerous tissue directly while TACE functions to attack the tumor by removing its blood supply.

These novel therapies can be used to treat liver cancer as well as kidney cancer, bone cancer, and lung cancer.