Safety and efficacy of Y-90 microsphere treatment in patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer: The tumor selectivity of the treatment as a function of tumor to liver flow ratio
2007

Safety and Efficacy of Y-90 Microsphere Treatment for Liver Cancer

Sample size: 40 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gulec Seza A, Mesoloras Geraldine, Dezarn William A, McNeillie Patrick, Kennedy Andrew S

Primary Institution: Goshen Cancer Institute, Goshen, IN, USA

Hypothesis

The study aims to evaluate the anatomic and physiologic determinants of radiation dose distribution and the dose response of tumor and liver toxicity in patients with liver malignancies treated with Y-90 resin microspheres.

Conclusion

Doses up to 99.5 Gy to uninvolved liver are tolerated with no clinical venoocclusive disease or liver failure, and the lowest tumor dose producing a detectable response is 40.1 Gy.

Supporting Evidence

  • All patients were treated in a salvage setting with a follow-up of 3 to 80 weeks.
  • 27 (67.5%) of the patients showed a response to the treatment.
  • The average administered activity was 1.2 GBq.
  • Liver absorbed doses ranged from 0.7 to 99.5 Gy.
  • Tumor absorbed doses ranged from 40.1 to 494.8 Gy.
  • None of the patients experienced clinical venoocclusive disease or therapy-induced liver failure.

Takeaway

Doctors used tiny beads filled with radiation to treat liver cancer, and they found that the treatment worked well without causing serious side effects.

Methodology

The study reviewed treatment records and follow-up data of 40 patients who underwent Y-90 resin microsphere treatment, assessing liver and tumor volumes, flow characteristics, and toxicity.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the retrospective nature of the study and the lack of a control group.

Limitations

The study is retrospective and may have biases related to patient selection and data collection.

Participant Demographics

The study included 40 patients (23 men and 17 women) aged between 31 and 81, with various types of liver cancer.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1479-5876-5-15

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication