Definition

A formulation of drug-eluting beads (DEB) consisting of polymeric microbeads impregnated with the organoplatinum complex and alkylating agent oxaliplatin, with potential antineoplastic activity. The beads consist of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres modified with sulfonic acid groups and loaded with oxaliplatin. During transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the hepatic artery, the oxaliplatin eluting beads occlude tumor blood vessels that feed the tumor and induce ischemic necrosis of tumor tissue due to mechanical blockage of the tumor vasculature. The beads release cytotoxic oxaliplatin locally, which may result in oxaliplatin-mediated inhibition of tumor cell proliferation through formation of both inter- and intra-strand platinum-DNA crosslinks, and the inhibition of DNA replication.