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Multiple Choice

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is best described as:

Transarterial chemoembolization combines delivering chemotherapy directly into the hepatic artery that feeds the tumor with an embolic step to block blood flow. This targets the tumor with a high local concentration of the drug while causing ischemia, which enhances tumor cell kill. The hepatic artery supplies the tumor preferentially over normal liver tissue, so this approach concentrates treatment where it’s needed and limits systemic exposure. This is distinct from intravenous chemotherapy, which spreads through the whole body; surgical removal, which physically excises tissue; and liver-directed radiation without embolization, which uses radiation rather than occluding the artery.

Transarterial chemoembolization combines delivering chemotherapy directly into the hepatic artery that feeds the tumor with an embolic step to block blood flow. This targets the tumor with a high local concentration of the drug while causing ischemia, which enhances tumor cell kill. The hepatic artery supplies the tumor preferentially over normal liver tissue, so this approach concentrates treatment where it’s needed and limits systemic exposure.

This is distinct from intravenous chemotherapy, which spreads through the whole body; surgical removal, which physically excises tissue; and liver-directed radiation without embolization, which uses radiation rather than occluding the artery.