Interventional oncology refers to minimally invasive procedures used to treat cancer and improve quality of life for cancer patients. Interventional oncologists (interventional radiologists who specialize in oncology) often treat patients for whom surgery is not an option, or who can no longer sustain further chemotherapy or radiation.

These non-surgical procedures utilize state-of-the-art imaging equipment to target patients’ tumors directly, offering faster recovery time and fewer side effects than systemic chemotherapeutic (anti-cancer) therapies.

Our experienced multidisciplinary team offers a wide range of minimally invasive therapies.

Chemoembolization

This therapy is used to treat liver cancer by injecting chemotherapeutic drugs directly into the cancerous tumor through a catheter. In addition, an embolic agent is injected into the blood vessel that supplies blood to the tumor, preventing blood flow to the diseased tissue. The combination of high chemotherapeutic-drug concentration and lack of vital blood supply can significantly reduce tumor growth and/or size.

Although chemoembolization is not a cure, it can relieve pain and other symptoms, make patients more comfortable and improve quality of life.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

RFA is a localized treatment that kills tumor cells with high-frequency electrical currents while sparing the healthy tissue. An ablation probe (specialized needle) is placed in the tumor and electrodes are deployed from the end of the probe. The electrodes transmit radiofrequency energy that produces heat that kills tumor tissue within minutes. Over time, the dead tumor slowly shrinks and forms a scar.

Cryoablation

A similar procedure to RFA, cryoablation uses cold instead of heat to destroy tumor cells. Special probes are placed in the tumor that emit liquid nitrogen or argon gas to generate extremely cold temperatures and destroy tumor cells. Warming devices can be used to minimize freezing damage to surrounding structures.

Magnetically targeted carriers and doxorubicin (MTC-DOX)

MTC-DOX therapy combines magnetized microparticles made of iron and carbon, and doxorubicin, an anti-cancer drug. A magnet placed directly over the tumor site on the outside of the body guides the magnetized microparticles carrying the doxorubicin directly to the tumor cells, where the doxorubicin can act against these cells. This therapy efficiently delivers a high concentration of the drug to the targeted site, minimizing exposure to surrounding tissues.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT)

SIRT is a revolutionary treatment for advanced liver cancer in which millions of microscopic radioactive spheres, called SIR-Spheres, are delivered directly to tumor cells, where they specifically irradiate the tumors. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, which can damage surrounding healthy tissue, SIRT targets the tumor cells, minimizing the harmful side effects to healthy tissue.

Vertebroplasty

This procedure is used to treat some types of spinal cancer. The spine is made up of stacked bony structures called vertebral bodies, interspaced with gelatinous discs. In this procedure, a needle is passed into the vertebral body to inject a special, rapidly drying cement mixture (bone glue, barium powder and antibiotic) that supports the weakened bone.