Centers of Excellence

The Oregon Health & Science University Dotter Lab will host the Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO)’s Center for Excellence Program, serving as a conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) Center of Excellence host site for visiting physician learners. This session will be a full day of comprehensive analysis and usage of cTACE.

Attendees will have the chance to learn didactically, then observe a pre-recorded or live case. The experience will culminate with a live tissue lab conducted under an IACUC approved protocol in which the attendees will have the chance to employ cTACE with the direction of our experts.

The OHSU team has extensive clinical research experience, and all animal studies will comply with the applicable federal, state, and agency laws, policies, and guidelines for animal protection.

Centers of Excellence Programs are scheduled in collaboration with the host institution. In 2025, prospective attendees can expect two programs. Click the button below to express your interest in one of the 2025 programs.

Interest Survey

Attendees will be hosted on site at a cTACE Center of Excellence wherein they will work with expert physicians during live cases to:

• Outline pre-procedural medication regimens to help mitigate side effects of cTACE
• Summarize current drug selection and dosage recommendation for cTACE
• Review optimal in room on table preparation of drug and lipiodol emulsion for cTACE
• Review appropriate equipment that is compatible with lipiodol
• Review angiographic approaches to location of catheter during treatment for cTACE
• Review in real time angiographic endpoints utilized in cTACE
• Suggest optimal embolic particle type and size
• Outline the role for adjunctive devices (eg: balloon occlusion catheters, pressure enable drug delivery catheters, etc)
• Define safe treatment parameters for cTACE performed via extrahepatic collateral vessels
• Perform a cTACE procedure in the laboratory using a live tissue model.

• Attendees will participate in discussions around patient selection criteria, and who is appropriate for LDT.
• Attendees will review the current guidelines and approaches to patient with HCC, mNET, cholangiocarcinoma, etc.
• Attendees will participate in discussions of how to choose between all liver directed therapy options (ablation vs. DEB/cTACE vs. Y90 vs. SBRT vs. systemic therapy).
• Attendees will participate in presentations on the data on safety and efficacy of cTACE to help with future tumor board discussions.
• Attendees will be able to describe the optimal preparation (“the recipe”) from pharmacy for drug preparation prior to arrival in IR.
• Attendees will be able to develop an outline of appropriate patient follow – up and strategies of how and when to re-treat
• Attendees will be able to describe expected side effects from cTACE and tips on how to mitigate post embolization syndrome

This program is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Guerbet.