Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Is a Feasible Palliative Locoregional Therapy for Breast Cancer Liver Metastases

Abstract

Background. Liver metastases are common in advanced breast cancer. We sought to evaluate the role of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in breast cancer patients with hepatic metastases. Methods. A retrospective review of ten patients with breast cancer who were treated with TACE for unresectable liver metastases (1998–2008). Results. All patients, median age 46.5, had received prior systemic chemotherapies. Adriamycin was administered for 6, cisplatin/gemcitabine for 2, cisplatin for one and oxaliplatin for one patient. Median number of TACE cycles was 4. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed an increase in median survival for patients who responded to treatment when compared to those who did not respond (24 vs 7 months, P=.02). Conclusions. This is one of the largest series of breast cancer patients with liver metastases treated with TACE. It suggests that TACE is a feasible palliative option and warrants further investigations.