What is the HepaSphere?
Now the most advanced interventional therapy is to treat with drug eluting microsphere (Trade name “HepaSphere”, approved by European Union, United States and China FDAs in 2004, 2006 and 2014, respectively). This technology first makes super absorbent polymer into ball carrier with a diameter of 50 microns, then utilizes ionic and chemical bond to absorb chemotherapeutic drugs on the surface and inside of spheres.
HepaSphere is stored in the form of powder, and its diameter can expand rapidly to 200 microns after absorbing chemotherapeutic drugs. The property of HepaSphere is very stable, so the particles can stay within tumor for a long time. In contrast, traditional iodinated oil embolization agent will ceaselessly fracture due to the impact of bloodstream and flow into surrounding normal tissues and block microvasculars inside, which often cause damage to normal tissue function. In addition, water-soluble chemotherapeutic drugs will be separated from iodinated oil quickly, which means bad sustained-release effect and treatment effect.
After tumor-supplying vessel is blocked by drug eluting microsphere, tumor's nutrition supply will be interrupted, and then tumor loses potential of further growth. Then chemotherapeutic drugs in the microspheres begin to release under the action of osmotic pressure. Surrounding tumor cells will undergo apoptosis and necrosis few days after absorbing drugs. Time of drug release from microspheres will last up to two weeks to achieve the effect of targeted starvation and poisoning of tumors, without the obvious side effects of systemic chemotherapy.
1. The original state 2. Drug-eluting microspheres 3. Drug-eluting microspheres can be seen obviously
Drug-eluting microspheres
The small drug-eluting microspheres are clearly visible, and the drug-laden particles are embedded in the tumor tissue in large quantities.
Gap between microspheres is found
Comparison with other microspheres for embolization
HepaSphere will change its shape along with the shape of the blood vessels, firmly binding to the tumor's blood vessels, cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, and slowly releasing the drug locally over a long period of time.
By radioimmunoassay, it can be seen that the drug continues to be released on the first, seventh, and fourteenth day of its entry into the body, thus greatly increasing the contact time with the tumor cells and fully killing the tumor cells.
How does HepaSphere take effect in human body?
First of all, doctor will accurately insert a tube into blood-supply vessels of tumor with the help of large digital subtraction equipment. Second, Hepasphere will be injected into the tumor through the tube, blocking the blood supply of the tumor. Third, the tumor will be dead after shortage of blood supply. Fourth, time of drug release from microspheres will last up to two weeks. The drugs will attack and kill the tumor cells. Last, tumor will go through apoptosis and necrosis after absorbing drugs for a long time because of shortage of blood and oxygen.
Indication
* All solid tumors
* All breast tumors including axillary and lymph node metastasis
* Solid tumors with rich blood vessels in head and neck
* Pelvic tumors with rich blood vessels
* Renal and adrenal tumors
*Central lung cancer with rich and abundant blood vessels
Cases
■Mediastinal squamous cell lung cancer with liver metastases. Images before treatment vs after treatment:
■ Left breast cancer. DSA during treatment, CT images before treatment and after treatment:
■ Primary liver cancer. CT images before and after treatment:
■ Right lung cancer. DSA during treatment, CT images before treatment and after treatment:
■ Left breast cancer with axillary and lymph node metastases. CT images before and after treatment:
■ Metastatic liver cancer. CT images before and after treatment:
