The Impact of Unilateral ⁹⁰Y-radioembolization on Functional Changes in the Contralateral Hepatic Lobe: The...

To investigate how metabolic function of the contralateral liver lobe is affected by unilateral radioembolization (RE), and to compare the changes in volume and metabolic function.

Unilateral RE induces contralateral liver hypertrophy, but it is unknown if metabolic liver function improves in line with volume increases.

This prospective open-label, nonrandomized, therapy-optimizing study included all consecutive patients undergoing right-sided or sequential ⁹⁰Y-RE for liver malignancies without underlying liver disease or biliary obstruction at a single center in Germany. Magnetic resonance imaging volumetry and hepatobiliary scintigraphy were performed immediately before RE and approximately 6 weeks after RE.

Twenty-three patients were evaluated (11 metastatic colorectal cancer, 4 cholangiocellular carcinoma, 3 metastatic breast cancer, 1 each of metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, oesophageal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma). In the untreated contralateral left liver lobe, mean (SD) metabolic function significantly increased from 1.34 (0.76) %/min/m² at baseline to 1.56 (0.75) %/min/m² 6 weeks after RE (P = 0.024). The mean (SD) functional volume (liver volume minus tumor volume) of the left liver lobe significantly increased from baseline (407.3 [170.3] mL) to follow-up (499.1 [209.8] mL; P < 0.01), with an equivalent magnitude to the metabolic function increase. There were no reports of grade ≥3 adverse events.

This study indicates that unilobar RE produces a significant increase in the metabolic function, and equivalent volume increase, of the contralateral lobe. RE may be a useful option to induce hypertrophy of the future liver remnant before surgical resection of primary or secondary liver malignancies.