Chemoembolization in Conjunction with Bevacizumab: Preliminary Results

Transarterial chemoembolization is an effective, minimally invasive therapy that is widely used for treatment of unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRC-LM). However, chemoembolization induces a hypoxic microenvironment, which increases neoangiogenesis and may promote early progression. For this reason, transarterial chemoembolization efficacy may be improved by combining it with an angiogenesis inhibitor, such as bevacizumab. This report shows that transarterial chemoembolization with irinotecan-loaded polyethylene glycol embolics and bevacizumab therapy was effective and well tolerated by 6 patients with CRC-LM, resulting in a disease control rate of 83% and an overall improvement in quality of life.