Regional chemotherapy for colorectal hepatic metastases using degradable starch microspheres. A review

Biodegradable starch microspheres (DSM) given by intra-arterial injection provide a way of improving the delivery of cytotoxic drugs to hepatic metastases and simultaneously reducing systemic toxicity. Their effect depends on exploiting the different vascular properties of neoplastic and healthy tissue. Although clinical evaluation is at an early stage, the ability of DSM to produce a selective increase of drug concentration in hepatic metastases represents an improvement on conventional techniques of regional chemotherapy.