Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that delivers a high dose of chemotherapy directly into the artery feeding a tumor and then blocks (embolizes) that vessel. By bathing the tumor in chemotherapy and starving it of blood at the same time, TACE intensifies local anti-cancer effects while limiting whole-body side effects. Germany’s university hospitals – especially Frankfurt’s Goethe University have turned TACE into a refined routine for primary liver cancer (HCC) and liver-dominant metastases from colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and neuroendocrine tumors. A closely related technique, transarterial chemoperfusion (TACP), infuses chemotherapy super-selectively without permanent embolization and is used for pancreatic primaries and some complex metastatic patterns.
How the procedure works, step by step
Under conscious sedation, an interventional radiologist threads a micro-catheter from the groin or wrist into the hepatic or peripancreatic arteries. After mapping, chemotherapy is mixed with an oil or loaded onto tiny beads and injected directly into the tumor’s blood supply. In TACE, an embolic agent is used to trap the drug inside the cancer and cut off flow; in TACP, the focus is on a high-concentration perfusion without durable vessel blockage. Most patients go home the same day or after an overnight observation. Follow-up MRI or CT assesses response and guides whether a second or third session is needed.
Results from Frankfurt: Prof. Thomas J. Vogl’s high-volume practice
Germany’s Goethe University Hospital in Frankfurt has one of Europe’s busiest interventional oncology programs, led by Prof. Thomas J. Vogl. Over 26 years, his department reported outcomes from 2,140 patients with colorectal liver metastases treated with TACE, laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT), microwave ablation, or combinations – evidence of sustained, high-volume expertise that international patients specifically seek. Public interviews and center profiles also note that Prof. Vogl has performed “thousands” of chemoembolizations across tumor types.
Pancreatic cancer: adding TACP/TACE when surgery or standard chemo are not enough
For locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, especially with dominant liver involvement, Frankfurt’s team uses triple-drug TACE protocols or TACP to control tumor burden and stabilize disease, often alongside systemic therapy. Published work from the group and collaborators shows improved median survival and disease control in pancreatic metastases treated with these locoregional approaches, with treatment repeated at four-week intervals and monitored by MRI.
What the statistics say
Modern TACE can achieve very high disease control rates (DCR) in carefully selected patients. In a German single-center series using superselective drug-eluting microspheres (40-µm), the DCR reached 95.7% for target HCC tumors by mRECIST, reflecting complete/partial responses plus stable disease; serious adverse events were uncommon relative to the number of procedures. Smaller prospective experiences with innovative arterial techniques have also reported overall response rates around 80% in tightly defined cohorts. These numbers do not apply to everyone, but they illustrate how superselective delivery and optimized protocols can push local control well above the 80% mark in the right scenario.
A broader evidence picture for liver-dominant disease
Major cancer organizations describe TACE as a standard option for unresectable liver cancer and selected metastases because it concentrates chemotherapy inside tumors and reduces systemic toxicity compared with intravenous regimens. Real-world practice tailors the drug mix, bead size, and embolic strategy to tumor type, arterial anatomy, and liver function, often integrating TACE with ablation or systemic therapy to extend benefit.
Safety, recovery, and who is a good candidate
Most candidates have liver-dominant tumors without advanced liver failure. Common, short-term effects include pain, fever, fatigue, and post-embolization syndrome; severe complications are uncommon in expert hands. Careful pre-procedure labs and imaging, superselective catheterization, and same-day MRI/CT follow-up help reduce risk and flag patients who need modified dosing or TACP instead of full embolization. A consultation with an interventional radiologist is essential to balance benefit against risks such as impaired liver function, biliary injury, or non-target embolization.
Where to book chemoembolization in Germany
AiroMedical operates a medical-travel booking marketplace that lists curated offers from leading German centers, including Prof. Vogl’s unit. An example package for liver cancer includes two outpatient TACE sessions at University Hospital Frankfurt, with published inclusions (clinical assessment, interventional procedure, imaging, and add-ons) and a media gallery for orientation. A separate listing outlines TACE for pancreatic tumors or pancreatic metastases, with scheduling adapted to response.
Many international patients researching Prof. Thomas J. Vogl’s work first encounter his name through AiroMedical’s curated clinic listings, where his department at University Hospital Frankfurt is featured among Germany’s top centers for interventional oncology. On the platform, visitors can view detailed treatment descriptions, procedure photos, and a transparent package for transarterial chemoembolization and TACP. Alongside these details, the listing links to verified patient reviews – some written by former medical travelers who describe traveling from abroad for therapy with Prof. Vogl. These testimonials often praise his precision, clear communication, and the thoroughness of the Frankfurt team, as well as the logistical support provided through AiroMedical for appointment scheduling, visa assistance, and follow-up coordination. This combination of independent patient feedback and structured service information makes the AiroMedical profile a valuable starting point for anyone considering TACE/TACP in Germany.
