Liver directed therapies
Neuroendocrine tumours that have spread to the liver can be treated with liver directed therapies.
These include:
- selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
- radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE).
What are liver directed therapies?
These are procedures performed by a specialist doctor known as an interventional radiologist. They may be done under local or general anaesthetic.
The aim of liver directed therapies is to deliver treatment directly to the tumour in the liver.
Liver directed therapies may be used when:
- the NET has spread to the liver forming one or more secondary tumours (metastases)
- it isn’t possible to remove the secondary tumours with surgery.
Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)
This procedure delivers chemotherapy directly to the tumour and at the same time blocks its blood supply (embolisation).
The chemotherapy is given through a thin tube that is inserted into the blood vessels in the liver supplying the tumour. Small plastic particles can be injected after the chemotherapy to block the blood vessels to the tumour.
Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)
In this treatment, millions of tiny radioactive beads are sent directly to the tumour through the arteries (blood vessels) in the liver. These lodge in the small blood vessels supplying the tumour and give off radiation over a very short distance.
It is also known as hepatic artery embolisation (HAE).
Radiofrequency ablation
This procedure uses radio waves to heat and destroy the tumour.
The tumour is located using an ultrasound or CT scan and a needle is inserted through the skin into the tumour. High frequency radio waves are sent through the needle into the tumour.
Checklists
Other resources we recommend
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NeuroEndocrine Cancer Australia1300287363
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Cancer Council Mon-Fri 9am-5pm13 11 20
