Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using degradable starch microspheres (DSM) (DSM-TACE) for primary and metastatic liver neuroendocrine tumors from gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors

Abstract

We reviewed the efficacy and complications of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using degradable starch microspheres (DSM) for primary neuroendocrine tumors of the liver or liver metastases from gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors in ten patients. The rate of complete and partial response was 70.0%. The one year and two year survival rate was 77.8% respectively, with a median survival time of 852 days (28.4 months). All symptoms and laboratory data related to treatment were acceptable. It is thought that DSM-TACE is an effective treatment for inoperable liver neuroendocrine tumors or liver metastases from gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.