Dual Blood Supply: Key to Effective Liver Cancer Treatment

The liver is unique because it receives blood from two primary sources: the hepatic artery and the portal vein. This dual blood supply plays a critical role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer.

1. Hepatic Artery:
   • Supplies oxygen-rich blood to the liver.
   • Mainly feeds liver tumors, especially HCC.
2. Portal Vein:
   • Carries nutrient-rich blood from the digestive tract to the liver.
   • Primarily supports healthy liver tissue.

How Dual Blood Supply Influences Liver Cancer Treatment

This is because the tumor in the liver receives most of its blood supply from the hepatic artery. Therefore, treatment methods that focus on destroying cancer cells through the arteries can be used. Without damaging the normal liver tissue that receives blood from the portal vein.

1. TACE (Transarterial Chemoembolization)

• Process: Chemotherapy drugs and embolic agents are injected directly into the hepatic artery to block the tumor's blood supply.
• Effect: Starves the tumor while sparing healthy liver tissue, which still receives blood from the portal vein.

2. Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE/SIRT)

• Process: Tiny radioactive beads are delivered through the hepatic artery to emit radiation directly to the tumor.
• Effect: Destroys cancer cells with minimal impact on healthy tissue.

3. HAIC (Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy)

• Process: Continuous delivery of chemotherapy into the hepatic artery for advanced liver cancer. Effect: Directly attacks the tumor with minimal systemic side effects.