Drug-eluting particles in the treatment of HCC: chemoembolization with doxorubicin-loaded DC Bead (TM)

The advantage of chemoembolization of the liver as an antineoplastic treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma is that it achieves high intratumoral concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agent locally that cannot be reached with systemic chemotherapy in nontoxic doses. However, chemotherapeutic release and local concentrations cannot be standardized by this technique. Drug-eluting beads have predictable pharmacokinetics and can achieve higher doses of the chemotherapeutic and prolonged contact time with cancer cells. The DC Bead (TM) is a drug-eluting bead that has proven favorable kinetics and clinical characteristics. This review describes the features of the DC Bead loaded with doxorubicin for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.