The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

July 2025

Systematic review of transarterial chemoembolization for desmoid tumors: a promising locoregional treatment for challenging tumor

Author Information

Abdulrahman Alaseem 1, Naif Alsaikhan 2, Abdulaziz M AlSudairi 3, Yazeed A Alsehibani 3, Mohammed N Alhuqbani 3, Zyad A Aldosari 3, Omar A Aldosari 3, Abdulaziz Almuhanna 4, Ibrahim S Alshaygy 3

1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. abalaseem@ksu.edu.sa. 2Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 4Orthopedic Surgery Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Publication

Discov Oncol

Summary

Background: Desmoid tumors are rare, locally invasive nonmetastatic tumors that arise from soft tissues. Due to the complexity of desmoid tumor therapy, each patient's particular needs and preferences must be considered in a multidisciplinary strategy. To provide innovative therapeutic approaches and improve the results for patients with desmoid tumors, ongoing research, and collaboration within the medical community are essential. Search methods: A comprehensive search of three databases was conducted from inception to June 2024 to identify all relevant cases of chemoembolization for desmoid tumors. Data from these cases were systematically extracted and analyzed to assess the procedure's overall efficacy and safety concerns. Search results: A total of 6 studies were identified in the literature with a combined sample size of 43 patients. Doxorubicin was the predominant chemotherapeutic agent administered using drug-eluting microbeads (DEB-TACE). The magnitude of size reduction varied from 21 to 97%. Most studies observed a decrease in size exceeding 50%. All 43 patients observed a decrease in symptoms following the procedures. Conclusions: This review emphasizes that chemoembolization shows potential as a reliable and low-risk approach for treating desmoid tumors. Chemoembolization can be used especially when the tumors are large or located in anatomically complex areas with clearly defined blood vessels.

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