Transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TAC-E) for patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Preoperative transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization (TAC-E) was used for 19 patients with locally advanced breast cancer, to eradicate the extensive loco-regional areas prior to surgery and hopefully to reduce the postoperative recurrence rate. The results were as follows: (1) Each primary tumor showed marked regression within 2 weeks after TAC-E. (2) Surgicopathology confirmed the excellent efficacy of TAC-E against both primary tumors and metastatic lymph node tumors. (3) Side effects due to this treatment were few, compared with other forms of cancer chemotherapy. (4) The prognosis of each patient was good. We conclude that preoperative TAC-E has a great potential for the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer.