Michael Soulen on Chemoembolization for NET Liver Metastases

Michael Soulen, MD, a professor of radiology and surgery at the Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, discusses chemoembolization to treat liver metastases in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Chemoembolization is used to treat NETs metastatic to the liver by administering highly concentrated chemotherapy drugs into the tumor and simultaneously blocking blood flow to the tumor with embolizing agents.

A new technique includes drug-eluding beads, which are soaked in a chemotherapy agent and cannot be broken down by the body. The beads are injected into the tumor and the drug is slowly released, allowing for a better drug retention over a longer period of time.