Tumor-feeding artery

Tumor-feeding arteries are the specific blood vessels that provide the primary blood supply, including oxygen and nutrients, to a solid tumor. In interventional oncology, these vessels are targeted to deliver localized therapy directly to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue (StatPearls, 2023). This is most commonly seen in procedures like Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE), where the artery is injected with chemotherapy and then occluded with embolic agents to induce tumor ischemia and necrosis (NIH, 2022). While critical for tumor survival and growth, these arteries are anatomical structures rather than specific molecular receptors or enzymes. Consequently, they represent a physical target for mechanical or localized chemical intervention rather than a traditional pharmacological molecular target. Identification of these vessels is typically achieved through Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) to ensure precise delivery of agents like Doxorubicin or Yttrium-90 (RadiologyInfo, 2024). The management of these vessels is a cornerstone of treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and other hypervascular malignancies.

Other names

Feeding vesselTumor afferent arteryTumor-supplying artery

Mechanical occlusion (embolization) and localized delivery of therapeutic agents to induce tumor necrosis.