MDS Nordion of Ottawa, Ontario, announced that the first large European study using yttrium-90 (Y-90) glass microspheres has been published on the use of TheraSphere, a radioembolization therapy for the localized treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer.
According to the company, the study concluded that radioembolization with TheraSphere is both safe and effective. Researchers also found that the overall survival rate was similar to that reported in another recently published large study analyzing Y-90 glass microspheres for the treatment of HCC.
The research, conducted at MDS Nordion's European Centre of Excellence in Essen, Germany, was published online and is scheduled to appear in the November issue of Hepatology. The lead author of the study was hepatologist Philip Hilgard, MD.
The study analyzed 108 patients, none of whom were eligible for conventional locoregional therapies. Patients achieved a median overall survival of 16.4 months with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue, even in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis or portal vein thrombosis.
No lung or visceral toxicity was observed. The most frequently observed adverse event was transient fatigue syndrome.
Hilgard said the outcomes of the study were not unexpected, adding that it was extremely important to be able to substantiate and verify the treatment. He and his colleagues noted that the study's results will help give more patients access to this advanced therapy.
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