Heard of Balloon TACE? India’s New Minimally Invasive Answer to Liver Tumours

For many people, the word cancer immediately recalls long hospital stays, painful surgeries, and slow recoveries. But with technological advancement, cancer care is also changing. Across India, doctors are now turning to gentler and more precise ways to treat the disease. One such approach, called Balloon TACE, is transforming how liver tumours are treated without the need for major surgery.

To understand how it works and why it is gaining attention, the Onlymyhealth editorial team spoke with Dr Amar Mukund, Professor and Head of Interventional Radiology at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi.

What Exactly Is TACE?

“TACE stands for Transarterial Chemoembolization. It is a minimally invasive way to target liver cancer directly through its blood supply,” explained Dr Amar Mukund. Instead of sending chemotherapy through the entire body, doctors guide a thin tube, known as a catheter, through an artery in the wrist or groin straight to the tumour. Once it reaches the target, drugs are released into the vessels feeding the tumour. These vessels are then blocked, cutting off the tumour’s oxygen and nutrient supply.

According to Dr Mukund, “It is like a precision strike. The drug hits the tumour directly, causing minimal damage to healthy tissue.”

The Balloon TACE Upgrade

Balloon TACE, short for Balloon-Occluded Transarterial Chemoembolization, takes this technique one step further. “During the procedure, we use a tiny balloon-tipped catheter,” said Dr Mukund. “Once it is positioned near the tumour’s blood supply, the balloon is inflated to temporarily stop blood flow. This creates what we call a ‘stasis zone,’ which helps keep the drug in place for longer”, Dr Mukund added.

This small modification changes everything. As per this procedure, the chemotherapy penetrates deeper into the tumour, stays where it is needed, and does not get diluted by normal circulation. The result is better tumour control and fewer side effects for patients.

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Why India Is Taking Note

According to GLOBOCAN data, India reports more than 30,000 new liver cancer cases every year. Many patients are diagnosed too late for surgery, which makes TACE a valuable treatment option, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer.

Now, with the introduction of Balloon TACE, outcomes are improving. “We are seeing improved tumour control, fewer treatment sessions, and improved quality of life,” said Dr Mukund.

This is particularly important because many Indian liver cancer patients also have cirrhosis or weakened liver function. Treatments that protect healthy liver tissue allow patients to stay eligible for future therapies and enjoy a better quality of life.

In India, many liver cancer cases are detected at stages when surgery is no longer possible. For such patients, a minimally invasive and targeted therapy like Balloon TACE offers hope for large tumours.

“It is not only about living longer,” said Dr Mukund. “It is also about living better, with fewer complications and more normalcy.”

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Is Balloon TACE Better Than Conventional Therapy?

Dr Mukund agreed that Balloon TACE is better than conventional therapy and highlighted several key benefits.

As stated by Dr Mukund, the treatment offers a higher tumour response, as chemotherapy reaches the core of the tumour more effectively, reducing active cancer cells. It also ensures improved liver preservation, with focused drug delivery that minimises damage to healthy liver tissue.

“Patients benefit from improved recovery, experiencing less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a quicker return to normal life,” Dr Mukund added. Moreover, the therapy expands access by offering broader eligibility, allowing even those once considered too high-risk for traditional TACE to be treated safely.

“With Balloon TACE, what once required weeks of recovery after surgery can now be discharged within a few days. When patients spend less time in the hospital, they have fewer side effects and return to everyday life much sooner and smoothly,” Dr Mukund noted.

Bottom Line

Cancer treatment in India is entering a new phase focused more on patients struggling with liver cancer. This new approach is a more hopeful and humane way to recover and heal. As several hospitals around the country are adopting Balloon TACE, experts believe it will play a major role in shaping the country’s liver cancer treatment strategies.