Reardon Kelli A, McIntosh Alyson F, Shilling A Tanner, Hagspiel Klaus D, Al-Osaimi Abdullah, Berg Carl, Caldwell Stephen H, Northup Patrick G, Angle Fritz, Mulder Robert, Rich Tyvin A
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0383, USA.
Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Feb;8(1):71-7. doi: 10.1177/153303460900800109.
This retrospective study was undertaken to obtain information regarding the survival and toxicities after Yttrium-90 microspheres treatment in patients with primary liver malignancies. Baseline, treatment, and follow-up data were collected and analyzed for 21 patients treated with Yttrium-90 microspheres. Survival analysis was then performed. The results of this study showed that median survival for all the patients was 120 days. Twenty of 21 patients were categorized as high-risk with a median survival of 114 days. It was also found that one high-risk patient has survived 858 days with no recurrence of disease. Acute grade 3-5 toxicities were recorded for nine patients and consisted of elevations in AST and bilirubin, thrombocytopenia, abdominal pain, ascites, nausea, fatigue, and death. This study concluded that Yttrium-90 is a low-toxicity, outpatient alternative for individuals with liver cancer and without many options. The maximal value, however, may lie in the treatment of low-risk patients.
