Intraarterial chemoembolization represents the only chemotherapy with documented effectiveness treating non-metastatic liver neoplasias. When performing this procedure, chemotherapy agents are introduced directly in the liver, where the tumor is localized, through the branch of the hepatic artery supplying the lesion. At this point the vessel is embolized.

Contrary to traditional chemotherapy, this treatment allows maximum concentration of the drug in the lesion and minimum concentration in the other organs or in the tissue. The effect of the therapy is that ischemic necrosis occurs in the neoplastic cells.

Chemoembolization was proven to increase the survival rate of hepatocarcinoma patients. Patients are generally discharged the day after the procedure, and only occasionally they experience common side effects of systemic chemotherapy (loss of hair, nausea, etc.).

Candidates to this treatment are patients with hepatocarcinoma on cirrhosis, candidates or not candidates to a liver transplant provided that have no complete thrombosis of the portal vein or end stage liver failure.

Intraarterial chemoembolization may be repeated according to patient's response. Should a complete thrombosis of the portal vein or severe liver failure occur the treatment is discontinued.