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Intra Arterial Therapy (IAT)
is a method of delivering drugs or other agents directly to a tumor
mass, giving a maximal anti-tumor effect while minimizing the
exposure of the body to potentially toxic effects of the agents.
This procedure is similar to cardiac catheterization, except the
small tube is not positioned in a cardiac artery, but in the
smallest artery that supplies the tumor. Introduction of a drug by
this method allows a very high concentration of the drug agent to be
presented to the tumor, far greater than can be realized by
conventional I.V. drug administration. The drug is greatly diluted
in the total blood volume when it leaves the tumor, thus minimizing
the total body effect. For some drugs, a neutralizing agent may be
given which further decreases or eliminates total body effects. This
is especially important if the drug has immunosuppressive effects.
IAT is a method of tumor
bulk reduction and is an alternative to chemotherapy and radiation,
but can also be used in conjunction with those modalities. IAT is
also useful as a single modality when a tumor is small and
localized. IAT has been used to treat tumors in many organs,
including the brain. We refer patients to Dr. Diaz and De La Fuente
in Monterrey, Mexico for this therapy. In the near future, we hope
to have a joint venture clinic established in Monterrey, the
BioTherapy Clinic. |
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