A novel application of drug-eluting transarterial chemoembolization in treating non-liver cancers

This case series aimed to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in patients with lung, renal, gastric, and other non-liver cancers. Twenty-four patients who underwent DEB-TACE or DEB-TACE combined with other therapies were reviewed in this case series. Treatment responses were assessed at 1 month after treatment according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Overall survival (OS) and adverse events were recorded. In the total patients, the objective response and disease control rate were 79.2% and 87.5%, respectively. And the mean OS in total patients was 14.7 months (95% confidence interval: 9.6–19.9 months). The number of patients who had generalized aches, nausea, vomit, fever, abdominal discomfort, chest discomfort, elevated blood pressure, cough, loss of appetite, and headache in total patients were 7 (29.2%), 11 (45.8%), 6 (25.0%), 2 (8.3%), 3 (12.5%), 3 (12.5%), 1 (4.2%), 1 (4.2%), 1 (4.2%), and 1 (4.2%), respectively. The objective response rates in patients with lung, renal, gastric, and other non-liver cancer were 70.0%, 85.7%, 100.0%, and 80.0%, respectively. In patients with lung, renal, gastric, and other non-liver cancers, the mean values of the OSs were 13.4 months, 12.4 months, 7.6 months, and 20.3 months, respectively. And the most common adverse events in lung cancer patients, renal carcinoma patients, gastric cancer patients, and patients with other non-liver cancers were post-embolization syndrome. DEB-TACE may be an effective and safe therapeutic option in patients with lung, renal, gastric, and other non-liver cancers.