Prayagraj: Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH) successfully performed its first-ever Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) procedure on a two-year-old girl suffering from hepatoblastoma, a rare form of liver cancer in children. The procedure, carried out on Monday, marked a significant advancement in paediatric oncology and interventional radiology services at the hospital.TACE is a modern, minimally invasive cancer treatment in which high-dose chemotherapy drugs are delivered directly to the tumour through a targeted blood vessel. The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team led by head of the department of Interventional Radiology Dr Daksh Chandra along with consultant in Medical Oncology Dr Manas Dubey and head of the department of Surgical Oncology Dr Sapan Srivastava.In this case, doctors used a combination of two widely used anti-cancer medicines (Doxorubicin and Cisplatin) to attack the tumour while reducing damage to healthy tissues. “The treatment was successful, and the child remained stable after the procedure. As TACE does not require open surgery, the patient was able to recover quickly and was shifted to the ward on the same day,” said Dr Srivastava.The patient was undergoing treatment at KNMH since May 2025. She was initially brought to the hospital with fever, and further medical investigations revealed a large lesion in the right lobe of the liver. Following the diagnosis, she started chemotherapy under close medical supervision. Her case was later reviewed by the hospital’s Tumor Board, which recommended advanced interventional treatment through TACE.Considering the family’s financial challenges, the hospital’s social work department arranged financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh from the Uttar Pradesh CM Relief Fund. Additional support was provided through CanKids, which supplied essential medicines, while KNMH CEO Dr Madhu Chandra and the administration ensured a free bed, food, and supportive care for the child.Hospital authorities described the successful procedure as a major milestone that reflects KNMH’s commitment to delivering state-of-the-art, patient-centric cancer care.
