Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI/HAIC)

Hepatic artery-delivered chemotherapy/radiation" is not a molecular target such as a receptor or enzyme. Instead, it refers to a therapeutic technique—most commonly called hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI/HAIC)—whereby chemotherapeutic agents are delivered directly into the hepatic artery using an implanted pump or catheter system. This approach is primarily used for treating primary and metastatic liver cancers that cannot be surgically removed. The rationale is that most liver tumors derive their blood supply from the hepatic artery rather than the portal vein; thus, direct arterial delivery achieves much higher drug concentrations in tumor tissue while sparing normal liver parenchyma from excessive toxicity. Commonly used drugs include oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin. In some protocols, HAI/HAIC may be combined with radiotherapy because local high-dose chemotherapy can sensitize tumor cells to radiation damage. This entry does not correspond to a single molecule/receptor but rather describes an interventional oncology procedure; therefore it should not be classified as a canonical molecular target.

Other names

Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapyHAIHAIChepatic arterial infusion pump chemotherapyliver-directed therapy (when referring to this method)

Delivers high concentrations of chemotherapeutic agents directly to liver tumors via the hepatic artery, maximizing local cytotoxicity while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. When combined with radiation therapy, chemotherapy can sensitize tumor cells to radiation-induced DNA damage for enhanced efficacy.