Which route involves delivering chemotherapy directly into arteries feeding a tumor?

Which route involves delivering chemotherapy directly into arteries feeding a tumor?

• A. Intraarterial
• B. Intravenous
• C. Intramuscular
• D. Intrathecal

Answer: (A)

The main concept is targeting chemotherapy by delivering it directly into the arteries that supply a tumor to achieve a high local concentration with less systemic exposure. Intraarterial administration achieves this by threading a catheter into the feeding artery and delivering the drug right at the tumor’s blood supply. This approach can maximize tumor drug exposure and potentially enhance effectiveness while reducing systemic side effects. It’s particularly used in settings like liver tumors where the hepatic artery feeds the tumor, or in limb-directed therapy for certain sarcomas. In contrast, intravenous delivery goes into the venous system and disperses through the whole body, which increases overall exposure and systemic toxicity. Intramuscular injections place the drug into muscle tissue with slower absorption and less targeted delivery. Intrathecal administration delivers medication into the cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord, targeting central nervous system disease rather than the arterial supply to a tumor.

The main concept is targeting chemotherapy by delivering it directly into the arteries that supply a tumor to achieve a high local concentration with less systemic exposure. Intraarterial administration achieves this by threading a catheter into the feeding artery and delivering the drug right at the tumor’s blood supply. This approach can maximize tumor drug exposure and potentially enhance effectiveness while reducing systemic side effects. It’s particularly used in settings like liver tumors where the hepatic artery feeds the tumor, or in limb-directed therapy for certain sarcomas.

In contrast, intravenous delivery goes into the venous system and disperses through the whole body, which increases overall exposure and systemic toxicity. Intramuscular injections place the drug into muscle tissue with slower absorption and less targeted delivery. Intrathecal administration delivers medication into the cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord, targeting central nervous system disease rather than the arterial supply to a tumor.