Tumor-feeding arterial vessel

Tumor-feeding arterial vessels are the specific blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to a neoplastic growth, often recruited through the process of tumor-induced angiogenesis (StatPearls, 2023). These vessels are characterized by structural abnormalities, such as increased permeability and tortuosity, which are driven by the overexpression of pro-angiogenic factors like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) (NCI, 2022). In interventional oncology, these vessels are utilized as a conduit for locoregional therapies, most notably Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE), where chemotherapeutic agents and embolic materials are delivered directly into the tumor's blood supply (RadiologyInfo.org, 2023). This approach allows for high local drug concentrations while minimizing systemic toxicity and inducing tumor necrosis through ischemia. While these vessels are a critical target for procedural interventions, they represent a physiological and anatomical structure rather than a single molecular target or receptor.

Other names

Tumor-feeding arteryTumor afferent vesselFeeding arteryTumor neovasculature

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) involves the catheter-directed delivery of cytotoxic drugs and embolic agents into these vessels to induce tumor ischemia and localized cell death (StatPearls, 2023).