Targeting hematogenous spread of circulating tumor cells by a chemotactic drug-eluting IVC filter to prevent pulmonary and systemic metastasis

The formation of distant metastases is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Hematogenous spread through venous drainage of tumors is the main route of metastatic spread. We propose that the use of a drug-eluting chemotactic Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter coated with specific antibodies to surface markers of circulating tumor cells will attract these malignant cells and lyse them thus theoretically decreasing formation of distant systemic metastases. This could have a major impact on cancer related morbidity and mortality caused by metastatic disease. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.