Y-90 microshperes in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

A small percentage of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are candidates for curative treatment in form of resection or transplantation. There are different treatment options for unresectable HCC-like local ablative therapies and recently systemic therapy with Sorafenib. All of these have variable response rate and had been proven to improve survival. In the last few years, there is a growing interest in TheraSphere radioembolization. It consists of yttrium90 (Y-90) embedded into nonbiodegradable glass microspheres. It is selectively administered by intraarterial hepatic injection giving high doses of radiation to the tumor and sparing the liver parenchyma. It has been shown to improve survival and used as a bridge to transplantation and to downstage tumors for resection. Therasphere seems to have favorable safety profile and has been used in patients with portal vein thrombosis with successful outcome.