Use of Yttrium-90 glass microspheres (TheraSphere) for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with portal vein thrombosis

Combination and Optimal Sequencing of Systemic and Locoregional Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Proceedings from the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation Research Consensus Panel

Hepatocellular carcinoma, historically, has had a poor prognosis with very few systemic options. Furthermore, most patients at diagnosis are not surgical candidates. Therefore, locoregional therapy (LRT) has been widely used, with strong data supporting its use. Over the last 15 years, there has been progress in the available systemic agents. This has led to the updated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) algorithm's inclusion of these new systemic agents, with advocacy of earlier usage in those who progress on LRT or have tumor characteristics that make them less likely to benefit from LRT. However, neither the adjunct of LRT nor the specific sequencing of combination therapies is addressed directly. This Research Consensus Panel sought to highlight research priorities pertaining to the combination and optimal sequencing of LRT and systemic therapy, assessing the greatest needs across BCLC stages.

Safety and Efficacy of Selective Internal Radionuclide Therapy with 90Y Glass Microspheres in Patients with Progressive Hepatocellular Carcinoma after the Failure of Repeated Transarterial Chemoembolization

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is currently the standard of care in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and selective internal radionuclide therapy (SIRT) with 90Y microspheres is mainly used as an alternative modality in patients considered poor candidates for TACE. Treatment with sorafenib is the recommended option for patients with progressive disease after TACE. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SIRT with glass microspheres in patients with progressive HCC after repeated TACE who are not eligible for treatment with sorafenib. Forty-seven patients with progressive HCC after a median of three TACE sessions (range 2-14) underwent SIRT (3.5 ± 1.5 GBq; liver target dose 110-120 Gy). Toxicity was recorded 4 and 12 weeks after treatment and reported according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 5.0. Treatment response was assessed three months after SIRT using multiphase computed tomography and modified criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST). Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and a Cox proportional hazards model for uni- and multivariate analyses. Significant but reversible hepatotoxicity (≥grade 3) occurred in five patients (11%). No radioembolization-induced liver disease (REILD) was observed. The number of previous TACE sessions and cumulative administered activity did not predict the incidence of post-SIRT significant hepatotoxicity. Treatment responses consisted of partial responses in 26 (55%), stable disease in 12 (26%), and progressive disease in 9 (19%) patients. The median overall survival (OS) was 11 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 9-13), and objective responses to SIRT were associated with a longer OS (p = 0.008). Significant hepatotoxicity (≥grade 3) after SIRT was a contributor to impaired survival (median OS 6 months (95% CI, 4-8) vs. 12 months (95% CI, 10-14), p < 0.001). SIRT with glass microspheres is a safe and effective salvage treatment for patients with progressive HCC refractory to TACE who are considered poor candidates for sorafenib treatment.

New Insights on Liver-Directed Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been increasing over the past decades, but improvements in systemic and locoregional therapies is increasing survival. Current locoregional treatment options include ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), transarterial radioembolization (TARE), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). There is ongoing research regarding the combination of systemic and local therapies to maximize treatment effect as well as in new non-invasive, image-guided techniques such as histotripsy. There is also active research in optimizing the delivery of therapy to tumors via nanostructures and viral-vector-mediated gene therapies. In many cases, patients require a combination of therapies to achieve tumor control and prolong survival. This article provides an overview of the most common liver-directed therapies for HCC as well as insight into more recent advances in personalized medicine and emerging techniques.

Optimal treatment for small HCC (<3 cm): Resection, liver transplantation, or locoregional therapy?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the most common form of liver cancer, accounting for 90% of all primary liver cancers. Up to 30% of HCC cases could be small (2-3 cm in diameter) at the time of diagnosis with advances in imaging techniques and surveillance programmes. Treating patients with early-stage HCC can be complex and often requires interdisciplinary care, owing to the wide and increasing variety of treatment options, which include liver resection, liver transplantation, and various locoregional therapies offered by interventional radiology and radiation oncology. Decisions regarding the optimal management strategy for a patient involve many considerations, including patient- and tumour-specific characteristics, as well as socioeconomic factors. In this review, we aim to comprehensively summarise the commonly used therapies for single, small HCC (<3 cm), with a focus on the impact of tumour size (<2 cm vs. 2-3 cm), as well as a brief discussion on the cost-effectiveness of the different treatment options.

Individualization of Radionuclide Therapies: Challenges and Prospects

Simple Summary

Currently, patient-specific treatment plans and dosimetry calculations are not routinely performed for radionuclide therapies. In external beam radiotherapy, it is quite the opposite. As a result, a small fraction of patients receives optimal radioactivity. This conservative approach provides “radiation safety” to healthy tissues but delivers a lower than indicated absorbed dose to the tumors, resulting in a lower response rate and a higher disease relapse rate. Evidence shows that better and more predictable outcomes can be achieved with patient-individualized dose assessment. Therefore, the incorporation of individual planning into radionuclide therapies is a high priority for nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists alike. Internal dosimetry is used in tumor therapy to optimize the absorbed dose to the target tissue. The main reasons for the difficulties in incorporating patients’ internal dosimetry into routine clinical practice are discussed. The article presents the prospects for the routine implementation of personalized radionuclide therapies.

Abstract

The article presents the problems of clinical implementation of personalized radioisotope therapy. The use of radioactive drugs in the treatment of malignant and benign diseases is rapidly expanding. Currently, in the majority of nuclear medicine departments worldwide, patients receive standard activities of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Intensively conducted clinical trials constantly provide more evidence of a close relationship between the dose of radiopharmaceutical absorbed in pathological tissues and the therapeutic effect of radioisotope therapy. Due to the lack of individual internal dosimetry (based on the quantitative analysis of a series of diagnostic images) before or during the treatment, only a small fraction of patients receives optimal radioactivity. The vast majority of patients receive too-low doses of ionizing radiation to the target tissues. This conservative approach provides “radiation safety” to healthy tissues, but also delivers lower radiopharmaceutical activity to the neoplastic tissue, resulting in a low level of response and a higher relapse rate. The article presents information on the currently used radionuclides in individual radioisotope therapies and on radionuclides newly introduced to the therapeutic market. It discusses the causes of difficulties with the implementation of individualized radioisotope therapies as well as possible changes in the current clinical situation.

Ytrrium-90 transarterial radioembolization in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies

Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with yttrium-90 (Y90) is a promising alternative strategy to treat liver tumors and liver metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC), as it selectively delivers radioactive isotopes to the tumor via the hepatic artery, sparring surrounding liver tissue. The landscape of TARE indications is constantly evolving. This strategy is considered for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with liver-confined disease and preserved liver function in whom neither TACE nor systemic therapy is possible. In patients with liver metastases from CRC, TARE is advised when other chemotherapeutic options have failed. Recent phase III trials have not succeeded to prove benefit in overall survival; however, it has helped to better understand the patients that may benefit from TARE based on subgroup analysis. New strategies and treatment combinations are being investigated in ongoing clinical trials. The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical applications of TARE in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.

TARE in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From the Right to the Left of BCLC

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system is the most commonly used staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Western countries. BCLC aims to categorize patients into five stages with different prognoses and to allocate treatment according to these stages based on the best possible contemporary evidence. Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) has recently entered at the left of the BCLC algorithm (i.e., BCLC 0-A), mainly because of negative phase III trials in BCLC C stage. TARE has shown a steady increase in nationwide studies over the past 20 years and has even been adopted in some tertiary centers as the primary HCC treatment across all BCLC stages. We aimed to review the history of TARE in HCC, starting from advanced HCC and gradually expanding to earlier stages at the left of the BCLC system.

Pre- and post-treatment image-based dosimetry in90Y-microsphere radioembolization using the TOPAS Monte Carlo toolkit

Objective. To evaluate the pre-treatment and post-treatment imaging-based dosimetry of patients treated with 90Y-microspheres, including accurate estimations of dose to tumor, healthy liver and lung. To do so, the Monte Carlo (MC) TOPAS platform is in this work extended towards its utilization in radionuclide therapy.Approach. Five patients treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital were selected for this study. All patients had data for both pre-treatment SPECT-CT imaging using 99mTc-MAA as a surrogate of the 90Y-microspheres treatment and SPECT-CT imaging immediately after the 90Y activity administration. Pre- and post-treatment doses were computed with TOPAS using the SPECT images to localize the source positions and the CT images to account for tissue inhomoegeneities. We compared our results with analytical calculations following the voxel-based MIRD scheme.Main results. TOPAS results largely agreed with the MIRD-based calculations in soft tissue regions: the average difference in mean dose to the liver was 0.14 Gy GBq^-1(2.6%). However, dose distributions in the lung differed considerably: absolute differences in mean doses to the lung ranged from 1.2 to 6.3 Gy GBq^-1and relative differences from 153% to 231%. We also found large differences in the intra-hepatic dose distributions between pre- and post-treatment imaging, but only limited differences in the pulmonary dose.Significance. Doses to lung were found to be higher using TOPAS with respect to analytical calculations which may significantly underestimate dose to the lung, suggesting the use of MC methods for 90Y dosimetry. According to our results, pre-treatment imaging may still be representative of dose to lung in these treatments.

Contemporary Algorithm for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in 2021: The Northwestern Approach

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality around the world. Frequently, concurrent liver dysfunction and variations in tumor burden make it difficult to design effective and standardized treatment pathways. Contemporary treatment guidelines designed for an era of personalized medicine should consider these features in a more clinically meaningful way to improve outcomes for patients across the HCC spectrum. Given the heterogeneity of HCC, we propose a detailed clinical algorithm for selecting optimal treatment using an evidence-based and practical approach, incorporating liver function, tumor burden, the extent of disease, and ultimate treatment intent, with the goal of individualizing clinical decision making.

Extrahepatic Applications of Yttrium-90 Radioembolization

While initially described and now accepted as treatment for primary and secondary malignancies in the liver, radioembolization therapy has expanded to include treatment for other disease pathologies and other organ systems. Advantages and limitations for these treatments exist and must be compared against more traditional treatments for these processes. This article provides an overview of the current applications for radioembolization outside of the liver, for both malignant and nonmalignant disease.

Transarterial Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Major Vascular Invasion: A Nationwide Propensity Score-Matched Analysis with Target Trial Emulation

PURPOSE

To examine National Cancer Database (NCDB) data to comparatively evaluate overall survival (OS) between patients undergoing transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and those undergoing systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with major vascular invasion (HCC-MVI).

METHODS

One thousand five hundred fourteen patients with HCC-MVI undergoing first-line TARE or systemic therapy were identified from the NCDB. OS was compared using propensity score-matched Cox regression and landmark analysis. Efficacy was also compared within a target trial framework.

RESULTS

TARE usage doubled between 2010 and 2015. Intervals before treatment were longer for TARE than for systemic therapy (mean [median], 66.5 [60] days vs 46.8 (35) days, respectively, P < .0001). In propensity-score-matched and landmark-time-adjusted analyses, TARE was found to be associated with a hazard ratio of 0.74 (95 % CI, 0.60-0.91; P = .005) and median OS of 7.1 months (95 % CI, 5.0-10.5) versus 4.9 months (95 % CI, 3.9-6.5) for systemically treated patients. In an emulated target trial involving 236 patients with unilobular HCC-MVI, a low number of comorbidities, creatinine levels <2.0 mg/dL, bilirubin levels <2.0 mg/dL, and international normalized ratio <1.7, TARE was found to be associated with a hazard ratio of 0.57 (95 % CI, 0.39-0.83; P = .004) and a median OS of 12.9 months (95 % CI, 7.6-19.2) versus 6.5 months (95 % CI, 3.6-11.1) for the systemic therapy arm.

CONCLUSIONS

In propensity-score-matched analyses involving pragmatic and target trial HCC-MVI cohorts, TARE was found to be associated with significant survival benefits compared with systemic therapy. Although not a substitute for prospective trials, these findings suggest that the increasing use of TARE for HCC-MVI is accompanied by improved OS. Further trials of TARE in patients with HCC-MVI are needed, especially to compare with newer systemic therapies.

Highlighting Survival with Yttrium-90 Radioembolization Therapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma has several different therapeutic options, including targeted agents as well as locoregional therapy. Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization therapy is an established treatment for unresectable disease and has been compared to other locoregional options as well as different targeted therapies. Newer case series are also reporting a potential benefit to the addition of immunotherapy to Y90 radioembolization. Here we report a case of prolonged survival in a patient whose treatment course included Y90 radioembolization along with sorafenib and nivolumab.

Advances in resection and transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma

It would be impossible to summarise all of the significant developments in the surgical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even just over the past year, in a manuscript of this scope. Thus, we have selected topics for discussion that are the subject of current controversy and have attempted to present balanced points of view. Hepatic resection and transplantation are both mature modalities, and for the most part technical advances and improvements in candidate selection are incremental. The ability to readily cure hepatitis C stands out as the most impactful development in the field over recent years, especially in Western countries where hepatitis C has long been the chief aetiology underlying HCC and a predictor of poor outcomes after surgery, but its full implications remain to be clarified. The rising incidence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related HCC and what it means with regard to surgical HCC management is an area of great current interest. With advancing technology, non-surgical locoregional treatments are gaining increasing application as potentially curative therapies. In addition, the advances in molecular and genomic assessment of HCC hold promise for personalising treatment and prognostication. The possible role of immunotherapy as an adjuvant to resection is being aggressively investigated. While liver surgery maintains an important role, the care of patients with HCC is more and more a team effort and needs to take place in the context of a well-integrated interdisciplinary programme to achieve the best outcomes for patients.

History and Evolution of Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer and affects millions worldwide. Due to the lack of effective systemic therapies for HCC, researchers have been investigating the use of locoregional tumor control with Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization since the 1960s. Following the development of glass and resin Y90 microspheres in the early 1990s, Y90 radioembolization has been shown to be a safe and efficacious treatment for patients with HCC across Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages. By demonstrating durable local control, good long term outcomes, and equivalent if not superior tumor responses and tolerability when compared to alternative therapies including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib, Y90 radioembolization is being increasingly used in HCC treatment. More recently, investigations into variations in Y90 radioembolization technique including radiation segmentectomy and radiation lobectomy have further expanded its clinical utility. Here, we discuss the history and evolution of Y90 use in HCC. We outline key clinical trials that have established the safety and efficacy of Y90 radioembolization, and also summarize trials comparing its efficacy to existing HCC treatments. We conclude by reviewing the techniques of radiation segmentectomy and lobectomy, and by discussing dosimetry.

Joint Consensus Statement of the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver and Indian Radiological and Imaging Association for the Diagnosis and Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incorporating Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 6th most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. There are currently no universally accepted practice guidelines for the diagnosis of HCC on imaging owing to the regional differences in epidemiology, target population, diagnostic imaging modalities, and staging and transplant eligibility. Currently available regional and national guidelines include those from the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver, the Japan Society of Hepatology, the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group, Hong Kong, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in the United States. India with its large population and a diverse health infrastructure faces challenges unique to its population in diagnosing HCC. Recently, American Association have introduced a Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LIRADS, version 2017, 2018) as an attempt to standardize the acquisition, interpretation, and reporting of liver lesions on imaging and hence improve the coherence between radiologists and clinicians and provide guidance for the management of HCC. The aim of the present consensus was to find a common ground in reporting and interpreting liver lesions pertaining to HCC on imaging keeping LIRADSv2018 in mind.

Clinical Case Panel: Treatment Alternatives for Inoperable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Surgical resection or liver transplantation offers the best chance of cure for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, most patients are not good candidates for liver resection due to locally advanced disease or compromised liver function. Moreover, liver transplantation waiting lists are long. For those cases not amenable for resection, a variety of local treatment modalities are available, such as image-guided ablative procedures, transarterial chemoembolization, and radioembolization, as well as external beam radiation. HCC presentation can vary considerably in size, number, and location of lesions. The management of inoperable HCC is, therefore, quite complex, and there is a lack of consensus on the best local treatment modality for each type tumor presentation. Here, we present 4 clinical case scenarios representative of commonly seen cases in the clinical setting, with different therapeutic perspectives from institutions with high expertise in the management of HCC.

Portal vein thrombosis in cirrhosis: diagnosis, natural history, and therapeutic challenges

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a frequent complication in cirrhosis and its prevalence increases with disease severity. Several factors are involved in the development and progression of PVT. The challenge for the management of PVT is the precise evaluation of the bleeding risk as opposed to life-threatening extension of thrombosis. Nevertheless, the impact on the progression and outcome of liver disease is unclear. A critical evaluation of the available data discloses that treating PVT in cirrhotics is safe and effective. However, there are open issues, such as which anticoagulant could represent a safer therapeutic option, and when and for how long this treatment should be administered to cirrhotic patients with PVT.

Review of the Scientific Understanding of Radioactive Waste at the U.S. DOE Hanford Site

This Critical Review reviews the origin and chemical and rheological complexity of radioactive waste at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site. The waste, stored in underground tanks, was generated via three distinct processes over decades of plutonium extraction operations. Although close records were kept of original waste disposition, tank-to-tank transfers and conditions that impede equilibrium complicate our understanding of the chemistry, phase composition, and rheology of the waste. Tank waste slurries comprise particles and aggregates from nano to micro scales, with varying densities, morphologies, heterogeneous compositions, and complicated responses to flow regimes and process conditions. Further, remnant or changing radiation fields may affect the stability and rheology of the waste. These conditions pose challenges for transport through conduits or pipes to treatment plants for vitrification. Additionally, recalcitrant boehmite degrades glass quality and the high aluminum content must be reduced prior to vitrification for the manufacture of waste glass of acceptable durability. However, caustic leaching indicates that boehmite dissolves much more slowly than predicted given surface normalized rates. Existing empirical models based on ex situ experiments and observations generally only describe material balances and have not effectively predicted process performance. Recent advances in the areas of in situ microscopy, aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, theoretical modeling across scales, and experimental methods for probing the physics and chemistry at mineral-fluid and mineral-mineral interfaces are being implemented to build robustly predictive physics-based models.

Tumor thrombus: incidence, imaging, prognosis and treatment

Intravascular tumor extension, also known as tumor thrombus, can occur in many different types of cancer. Those with the highest proclivity include Wilm's tumor, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The presence of tumor thrombus markedly worsens prognosis and impacts treatment approach. Imaging plays a key role in its diagnosis. Endovascular methods also play a large role in treatment.

Surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus in the Asia-Pacific region beyond the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer treatment algorithms: a review and update

Portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) usually worsens prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as characterized by aggressive disease progression, impaired liver function and tolerance to treatment. Conventionally, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) accepted the Barcelona Clinical Liver Cancer (BCLC) treatment algorithms, identifying PVTT as an absolute contra-indication of surgical resection for HCC. HCC-PVTT patients are offered sorafenib as the standard treatment. Evidently, SHARP and Asia-Pacific trials demonstrated that sorafenib only improves overall survival by approximately 3 months in patients with advanced HCC. Besides, BCLC treatment algorithm does not provide different therapeutic recommendations for different degree of PVTT, and only supports single treatment option for each stage of HCC rather than a combination of comprehensive treatments, which limited individual and best care for every HCC-PVTT patients. In the past few years, many surgeons do not restrict surgical resection to HCC with PVTT. There have been new reports demonstrated that surgical treatment is feasible for selected HCC-PVTT patients with resectable tumor and moderate liver function to prolong survival period and elevate life quality as long as PVTT limited to the first-order branch, whereas non-surgical treatments fail to provide comparable therapeutic effects. At present, guidelines on HCC management from mainland China, Japan, and Hong Kong have been updated and a consensus of Asia-Pacific experts has established that portal venous invasion is not an absolute contradiction of surgical resection for HCC. This review summarized the emerging data on surgical resection for HCC-PVTT patients beyond the BCLC treatment algorithms and discussed recent therapeutic conceptualchanges in the Asia-Pacific region.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria Radiologic Management of Hepatic Malignancy

Management of primary and secondary hepatic malignancy is a complex problem. Achieving optimal care for this challenging population often requires the involvement of multiple medical and surgical disciplines. Because of the wide variety of potential therapies, treatment protocols for various malignancies continue to evolve. Consequently, development of appropriate therapeutic algorithms necessitates consideration of medical options, such as systemic chemotherapy; surgical options, such as resection or transplantation; and loco-regional therapies, such as thermal ablation and transarterial embolization techniques. This article provides a review of treatment strategies for the three most common subtypes of hepatic malignancy treated with loco-regional therapies: hepatocellular carcinoma, neuroendocrine metastases, and colorectal metastases. The ACR Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed every three years by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and review include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of a well-established consensus methodology (modified Delphi) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures by the panel. In those instances where evidence is lacking or not definitive, expert opinion may be used to recommend imaging or treatment.

Treating hepatocellular carcinoma with 90Y-bearing microspheres: a review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease usually diagnosed in its advanced-stage, and is frequently not amenable to curative surgical treatment. Also, HCC is resistant to chemotherapy and less vulnerable to radiation therapy compared to normal hepatic parenchyma. Both of these facts render the efficacy of adjuvant and palliative treatments problematic. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with ⁹⁰Y-bearing microspheres is characterized by preferentially delivering substantially high doses of radiation to a liver tumor dose simultaneously limiting the damage to its non-tumorous cells, providing an opportunity for effective local tumor control and even tumor regression therapy. The current article reviews the specific characters, dosimetry, possible applications, and special considerations toward the pre-existing radiation therapy of ⁹⁰Y microsphere SIRT in treating HCC.

Consensus for Radiotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma from The 5th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2014): Current Practice and Future Clinical Trials

A consensus meeting to develop practice guidelines and to recommend future clinical trials for radiation therapy (RT), including external beam RT (EBRT), and selective internal RT (SIRT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was held at the 5th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert consortium. Although there is no randomized phase III trial evidence, the efficacy and safety of RT in HCC has been shown by prospective and retrospective studies using modern RT techniques. Based on these results, the committee came to a consensus on the utility and efficacy of RT in the management of HCC according to each disease stage as follows: in early and intermediate stage HCC, if standard treatment is not compatible, RT, including EBRT and SIRT can be considered. In locally advanced stage HCC, combined EBRT with transarterial chemoembolization or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, and SIRT can be considered. In terminal stage HCC, EBRT can be considered for palliation of symptoms and reduction of morbidity caused by the primary tumor or its metastases. Despite the currently reported benefits of RT in HCC, the committee agreed that there is a compelling need for large prospective studies, including randomized phase III trial evidence evaluating the role of RT. Specifically studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of sequential combination of EBRT and SIRT are strongly recommended.

Yttrium-90 Selective Internal Radiation Therapy with Glass Microspheres for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current and Updated Literature Review

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer and it represents the majority of cancer-related deaths in the world. More than 70% of patients present at an advanced stage, beyond potentially curative options. Ytrrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy (Y90-SIRT) with glass microspheres is rapidly gaining acceptance as a potential therapy for intermediate and advanced stage primary hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases. The technique involves delivery of Y90 infused glass microspheres via the hepatic arterial blood flow to the appropriate tumor. The liver tumor receives a highly concentrated radiation dose while sparing the healthy liver parenchyma due to its preferential blood supply from portal venous blood. There are two commercially available devices: TheraSphere® and SIR-Spheres®. Although, Y90-SIRT with glass microspheres improves median survival in patients with intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and has the potential to downstage hepatocellular carcinoma so that the selected candidates meet the transplantable criteria, it has not gained widespread acceptance due to the lack of large randomized controlled trials. Currently, there are various clinical trials investigating the use of Y90-SIRT with glass microspheres for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and the outcomes of these trials may result in the incorporation of Y90-SIRT with glass microspheres into the treatment guidelines as a standard therapy option for patients with intermediate and advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Selective internal radiation therapy for the treatment of inoperable neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases

Neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases are commonly present at the time of neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis. Surgical resection is potentially curative and achieves the best long-term results but is not feasible in many patients. Angiographic liver-directed treatment modalities such as transarterial embolization, transarterial chemoembolization and selective internal radiotherapy using Yttrium-90 ([90]Y)-labeled microspheres have been shown to be effective treatments with liver predominant disease. Here, we review the management of neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases including selective internal radiotherapy.

Molecular imaging and therapy targeting copper metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Significant efforts have been devoted to identify new biomarkers for molecular imaging and targeted therapy of HCC. Copper is a nutritional metal required for the function of numerous enzymatic molecules in the metabolic pathways of human cells. Emerging evidence suggests that copper plays a role in cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Increased accumulation of copper ions was detected in tissue samples of HCC and many other cancers in humans. Altered copper metabolism is a new biomarker for molecular cancer imaging with position emission tomography (PET) using radioactive copper as a tracer. It has been reported that extrahepatic mouse hepatoma or HCC xenografts can be localized with PET using copper-64 chloride as a tracer, suggesting that copper metabolism is a new biomarker for the detection of HCC metastasis in areas of low physiological copper uptake. In addition to copper modulation therapy with copper chelators, short-interference RNA specific for human copper transporter 1 (hCtr1) may be used to suppress growth of HCC by blocking increased copper uptake mediated by hCtr1. Furthermore, altered copper metabolism is a promising target for radionuclide therapy of HCC using therapeutic copper radionuclides. Copper metabolism has potential as a new theranostic biomarker for molecular imaging as well as targeted therapy of HCC.

A systematic review on the safety and effectiveness of yttrium-90 radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Over the past two decades, several advances have been made in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). Yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) radioembolization has recently been made a treatment option for patients with HCC and PVTT. However, there is still a need to systematicly evaluate the outcomes of 90 Y radioembolization for HCC and PVTT. We aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of 90 Y radioembolization for HCC and PVTT. We performed a systematic review of clinical trials, clinical studies, and abstracts from conferences that qualified for analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, CINAHL, and the "gray" literature (Google Scholar) were searched for all reports (1991-2016) related to 90 Y radioembolization for HCC and PVTT.

RESULTS

A total of 14 clinical studies and three abstracts from conferences including 722 patients qualified for the analysis. The median length of follow-up was 7.2 months; the median time to progression was 5.6 months, and median disease control rate was 74.3%. Radiological response data were reported in five studies, and the median reported value of patients with complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease were 3.2%, 16.5%, 31.3%, and 28%, respectively. The median survival was 9.7 months for all patients, including the median overall survival (OS) were 12.1, 6.1 months of Child-Pugh class A and B patients, and the median OS were 6.1, 13.4 months of main and branch PVTT patients, respectively. The common toxicities were fatigue, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, mostly not requiring medical intervention needed no medication intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

90 Y radioembolization is a safe and effective treatment for HCC and PVTT.

Evaluation of factors affecting tumor response and survival in patients with primary and metastatic liver cancer treated with microspheres

OBJECTIVE

Radioembolization with the yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres is being used increasingly more often in the treatment of patients with primary or metastatic liver cancer. Although technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (Tc-99m MAA) scintigraphy performed following diagnostic angiography has an important role in predicting the effectiveness of treatment and in dose estimation, the number of studies using quantitative assessment of Tc-99m MAA scintigraphy is limited in this field. In the present study, the aim was to assess whether a tumor dose is required to obtain objective tumor response and to check whether this threshold value is predictive in terms of tumor response, survival, and liver toxicity by using Tc-99m MAA single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Overall, 54 patients (20 women and 34 men; median age: 60 years) who underwent Y-90 Resin (SIR-Spheres) and Glass (TheraSphere) microsphere treatment with a diagnosis of unresectable liver cancer between August 2010 and April 2013 were included in the study. The mean doses to normal liver and tumor were estimated for each patient using Tc-99m MAA SPECT images and the medical internal radiation dosimetry method. The responses were assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and univariate Cox regression analysis were used in survival analysis. The relationship between treatment response and other parameters included was assessed using logistic regression analysis. The variables with a P value less than 0.01 in univariate analysis were assessed with multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Fifty-four Y-90 microsphere treatments (eight by using a Y-90 glass microsphere and 46 by using a Y-90 resin microsphere) were performed. In the multivariate analysis, the only parameter related to response was tumor dose (P<0.01). With a tumor dose of 280 Gy or higher, objective tumor response was observed in 59 and 77% of the patients according to RECIST and EORTC criteria, respectively, and the tumor control rate was found to be 95% according to both criteria. In addition, it was found that only tumor dose was correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) (P<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.018). When the tumor dose was 280 Gy or higher, median PFS increased from 2 to 10.7 months (P<0.001), whereas median OS increased from 9 to 17.6 months (P=0.018). However, reversible ≥ G2 liver toxicity was observed in 3.7% (2/54) of the patients within 3 months after radioembolization with a median normal liver dose of 40 Gy (10-102 Gy). There was reversible ≥ G3 liver toxicity in 3.7% (2/54) of patients, but no G4 liver toxicity was observed. Clinical radiation hepatitis and treatment-induced liver failure were not observed in any of these patients.

CONCLUSION

Tc-99m MAA SPECT has a predictive value in terms of response to radioembolization, PFS, and OS. Dosimetry based on Tc-99m MAA SPECT images can be used in the selection of patients and, in particular, to adaptation of treatment plan in selected patients.

Yttrium-90 radioembolization for advanced inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Advanced inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) conferring a grave prognosis may benefit from yttrium-90 ((90)Y) radioembolization.

METHODS

Thirty patients with advanced inoperable HCC including those with any lesion >8 cm in maximal diameter or multiple bi-lobar lesions (totally more than five lesions), or portal vein thrombosis treated with radioembolization were reviewed. Treatment efficacy and safety were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for identifying potential prognostic factors.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 18.3 months, the response rate was 30.0%, and the disease control rate was 50.0%. Median overall progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.3 months and 13.2 months, respectively. Longer median PFS was noted in those who had transarterial chemoembolization before radioembolization (7.3 months vs 3.1 months; P=0.021) and duration of alfafeto protein (AFP) response ≥6 months (11.8 months vs 3.0 months; P<0.001). Longer median OS was also revealed in those without portal vein thrombosis (17.1 months vs 4.4 months; P=0.015) and those whose duration of AFP response was ≥6 months (21.2 months vs 8.6 months; P=0.001). Seventeen patients (56.7%) developed treatment-related complications including five (16.7%) grade 3 events. Multivariate analysis revealed that treatment responders (P=0.001) and duration of AFP response ≥6 months (P=0.006) were prognostic of PFS, whereas the absence of portal vein invasion (P=0.025), treatment responders (P=0.010), and duration of AFP response ≥6 months (P=0.001) were prognostic of OS.

CONCLUSION

(90)Y radioembolization is an alternative treatment with a promising outcome for poor-risk advanced inoperable HCC.

[Selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) of liver tumors]

METHODICAL INNOVATIONS

Selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) is a safe and efficacious, minimally invasive procedure to treat primary and secondary unresectable liver tumors. For hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SIRT has proven to be a well-tolerated therapy option even in advanced stages of disease.

STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS

In cases of portal vein thrombosis SIRT is the alternative to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

PERFORMANCE

The role of SIRT regarding downstaging and bridging to transplantation is promising and SIRT has also been shown to be highly effective and well-tolerated in metastastic liver disease.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The results of prospective randomized trials are awaited to prove the efficiency and safety of SIRT described in numerous retrospective and prospective non-randomized studies.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The indications are established within the framework of a tumor board.

A computational tool for patient specific dosimetry and radiobiological modeling of selective internal radiation therapy with (90)Y microspheres

In recent years we have witnessed tremendous progress in selective internal radiation therapy. In clinical practice, quite often, radionuclide therapy is planned using simple models based on standard activity values or activity administered per unit body weight or surface area in spite of the admission that radiation-dose methods provide more accurate dosimetric results. To address that issue, the authors developed a Matlab-based computational software, named Patient Specific Yttrium-90 Dosimetry Toolkit (PSYDT). PSYDT was designed for patient specific voxel-based dosimetric calculations and radiobiological modeling of selective internal radiation therapy with (90)Y microspheres. The developed toolkit is composed of three dimensional dose calculations for both bremsstrahlung and beta emissions. Subsequently, radiobiological modeling is performed on a per-voxel basis and cumulative dose volume histograms (DVHs) are generated. In this report we describe the functionality and visualization features of PSYDT.

New perspectives on the management of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis

Despite advances in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), managing HCC with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains challenging. PVT is present in 10-40% of HCC cases at the time of diagnosis and its therapeutic options are very limited. Current guidelines mainly recommend sorafenib for advanced HCC with PVT, but surgery, transarterial chemoemolization, external radiation therapy, radioembolization, transarterial infusion chemotherapy, and combination therapy are also still used. Furthermore, several new emerging therapies such as the administration of immunotherapeutic agents and oncolytic viruses are under investigation. This comprehensive literature review presents current and future management options with their relative advantages and disadvantages and summary data on overall survival.

Combined Cisplatin-Based Chemoembolization and Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Invading the Main Portal Vein

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and survival outcome of chemoembolization plus radiation therapy (RT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with main portal vein (PV) tumor thrombosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 151 patients with HCC and main PV involvement (101 with Child-Pugh class A liver function and 50 with Child-Pugh class B liver function) treated with combined cisplatin-based chemoembolization and RT. Medical records, imaging, and laboratory studies were reviewed, and complications, survival, and mortality rates were determined.

RESULTS

After chemoembolization, major complications occurred in 19.9% of patients, with the rate of major complications significantly higher in Child-Pugh class B cases than in Child-Pugh class A cases (32% vs 13.9%; P = .016). The 30-day mortality rate was 0.7%. One hundred forty-seven patients received adjuvant RT an average of 17.4 days after chemoembolization for main PV tumor thrombosis. Adjuvant RT could not be performed in four patients because of intolerance of the initial chemoembolization. There were no major complications after RT. The objective tumor response at 6 months was 25.2%, with a median survival of 12 months (14 mo in Child-Pugh class A cases and 8 mo in Child-Pugh class B cases). Patients with Child-Pugh class B liver function with extrahepatic metastases, no tumor response, and absence of second-line sorafenib treatment had poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemoembolization combined with RT improves survival, with a median survival of 12 months in patients with HCC with main PV involvement.

Advances in SPECT for Optimizing the Liver Tumors Radioembolization Using Yttrium-90 Microspheres

Radioembolization (RE) with Yttrium-90 ((90)Y) microspheres is an effective treatment for unresectable liver tumors. The activity of the microspheres to be administered should be calculated based on the type of microspheres. Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin ((99m)Tc-MAA) single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is a reliable assessment before RE to ensure the safe delivery of microspheres into the target. (90)Y bremsstrahlung SPECT imaging as a posttherapeutic assessment approach enables the reliable determination of absorbed dose, which is indispensable for the verification of treatment efficacy. This article intends to provide a review of the methods of optimizing (90)Y bremsstrahlung SPECT imaging to improve the treatment efficacy of liver tumor RE using (90)Y microspheres.

Management strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma: old certainties and new realities

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent disease ranking among the ten most common cancers worldwide with increasing trend of incidence in most developed countries. The great healthcare costs and economic burden of HCC dictate proper preventive interventions as well as surveillance and screening programs to decrease disease incidence and allow early diagnosis. HCC treatment outcomes are affected by several variables, including liver function, patient's performance status, and tumor stage. In line with the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging curative treatments, such as surgery or radio-frequency ablation, are indicated in early-stage HCC (BCLC-A), and the noncurative treatments are indicated in intermediate and advanced stages of HCC (BCLC-B, C). Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) represents the treatment of choice for intermediate-stage HCC with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis, and the long-term survival after liver transplantation is inferior to that of early-stage HCCs. In advanced-stage HCC or when complete necrosis is not achieved or early recurrence after TACE develops, individualized treatments such as systemic treatment or combined radiation therapy are indicated. The increasing knowledge of the genomic landscape of HCC and the development of molecular-targeted therapies is heading toward expanding the armamentarium for HCC management.

Prognostication and response assessment in liver and pancreatic tumors: The new imaging

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and perfusion computed tomography (CT) are technical improvements of morphologic imaging that can evaluate functional properties of hepato-bilio-pancreatic tumors during conventional MRI or CT examinations. Nevertheless, the term “functional imaging” is commonly used to describe molecular imaging techniques, as positron emission tomography (PET) CT/MRI, which still represent the most widely used methods for the evaluation of functional properties of solid neoplasms; unlike PET or single photon emission computed tomography, functional imaging techniques applied to conventional MRI/CT examinations do not require the administration of radiolabeled drugs or specific equipments. Moreover, DWI and DCE-MRI can be performed during the same session, thus providing a comprehensive “one-step” morphological and functional evaluation of hepato-bilio-pancreatic tumors. Literature data reveal that functional imaging techniques could be proposed for the evaluation of these tumors before treatment, given that they may improve staging and predict prognosis or clinical outcome. Microscopic changes within neoplastic tissues induced by treatments can be detected and quantified with functional imaging, therefore these techniques could be used also for post-treatment assessment, even at an early stage. The aim of this editorial is to describe possible applications of new functional imaging techniques apart from molecular imaging to hepatic and pancreatic tumors through a review of up-to-date literature data, with a particular emphasis on pathological correlations, prognostic stratification and post-treatment monitoring.

(90)Y-glass microspheres for hepatic neoplasia

Unresectable liver cancer presents a major problem in the treatment of solid tumors. Transarterial radioembolization is a modern approach toward primary and secondary liver malignancies. The mechanism of action is independent from other therapies that are based on ischemia or chemotoxicity. (90)Y-resin and (90)Y-glass microspheres are commercially available for transarterial radioembolization. Available data on the use of (90)Y-glass microspheres in hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic disease indicate that this treatment is safe and effective. In hepatocellular carcinoma the results compare well with chemoembolization and might be considered more often. Current data in metastatic disease are promising, but there is a strong need for prospective randomized trials to identify the role of transarterial radioembolization with (90)Y-glass microspheres in metastatic liver disease.

Therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma: new advances and challenges

OPINION STATEMENT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing malignancy in the USA, and its prognosis remains poor with a 5-year survival around 12 %. Clinical data demonstrate that 85 % of cases occur in individuals with underlying cirrhosis and only 15 % develop in non-cirrhotic livers. Therefore, American and European guidelines recommend routine HCC screening for high-risk individuals (patients with cirrhosis) with abdominal ultrasound every 6 months. Once a lesion is identified or suspected on ultrasound, dynamic imaging is then indicated. The diagnosis of HCC is established in a patient with cirrhosis when a lesion measures at least 1 cm in diameter and demonstrates arterial enhancement and portal venous washout on contrast-enhanced computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Indeterminate lesions should be followed with surveillance imaging or further investigated with biopsy according to the level of suspicion for malignancy. Given the clinical, pathological, and molecular heterogeneity of HCC, there are multiple therapeutic modalities available. These may be curative, such as surgical resection, liver transplantation, and local ablation, or palliative, such as catheter-directed therapies (transarterial chemo, radio, or bland embolization), and systemic therapy (sorafenib). Patients with a single lesion, good performance status, and preserved liver synthetic function should be offered curative surgical resection or ablation therapy. Patients with HCC and decompensated liver disease should be evaluated and listed for liver transplantation. For unresectable disease or tumor burden precluding transplantation or curative ablation, palliative therapeutic modalities should be offered. Sorafenib is indicated for patients with vascular invasion and/or extra-hepatic metastasis if the estimated life expectancy is more than 3 months. Systemic internal radiation therapy using yttrium-90 microspheres in cases of multifocal bi-lobar disease and/or portal vein occlusion is an emerging therapy. Best supportive care is recommended for patients who lack the hepatic reserve to tolerate therapy.

Radiotherapy for liver tumors

Many patients with primary hepatic malignancies present with advanced disease that is not suitable for surgical resection, orthotopic liver transplantation, or radiofrequency ablation. Outcomes are particularly dismal in patients with large, unresectable tumors and/or tumor venous thrombosis. Liver-directed radiotherapy, including stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), is able to treat a variety of tumor sizes and tumors with venous involvement and has demonstrated excellent safety and control outcomes. SBRT should be considered a standard option in patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who are not candidates for surgical resection, orthotopic liver transplantation or radiofrequency ablation. SBRT should be strongly considered in patients with larger tumors and/or tumors with tumor venous thrombosis who have adequate liver function. Radiotherapy should remain a focus of hepatocellular carcinoma research.

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is complex and requires an understanding of multiple therapeutic options. PVT is present in 10%-40% of HCC at the time of diagnosis, and is an adverse prognostic factor. Management options are limited, as transplantation is generally contraindicated, and surgical resection is only rarely performed in select centers. Systemic medical therapy with sorafenib has been shown to modestly prolong survival. Transarterial chemoembolization has been performed in select cases but has shown a high incidence of complications. Emerging data on treatment of PVT with Y-90 radioembolization suggest that this modality is well-tolerated and associated with favorable overall survival. Current society guidelines do not yet specifically recommend radioembolization for patients with PVT, but this may change with the development of newer staging systems and treatment algorithms. In this comprehensive literature review, we present current and available management options with the relative advantages, disadvantages and contraindications of these treatment options with summarized data on overall survival.

Yttrium-90 microsphere radioembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization is an emerging strategy to treat liver malignancies, and clinical data supporting its use have accumulated in recent years. Y90-radioembolization has shown clinical effectiveness in intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, with a favorable safety profile. Retrospective data show similar levels of effectiveness to transarterial chemoembolization in intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma, with some evidence of better tolerance. While phase 3 studies comparing Y90-radioembolization to chemoembolization in intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma would be difficult to conduct, studies comparing or combining Y90-radioembolization with sorafenib are under way. Questions also remain about the most suitable modalities for defining the dose to administer. Phase 3 studies are under way to clarify the place of Y90-radioembolization in the algorithm of HCC treatment.

Portal vein thrombosis

Portal vein thrombosis is an important cause of portal hypertension. PVT occurs in association with cirrhosis or as a result of malignant invasion by hepatocellular carcinoma or even in the absence of associated liver disease. With the current research into its genesis, majority now have an underlying prothrombotic state detectable. Endothelial activation and stagnant portal blood flow also contribute to formation of the thrombus. Acute non-cirrhotic PVT, chronic PVT (EHPVO), and portal vein thrombosis in cirrhosis are the three main variants of portal vein thrombosis with varying etiological factors and variability in presentation and management. Procoagulant state should be actively investigated. Anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy for acute non-cirrhotic PVT, with supporting evidence for its use in cirrhotic population as well. Chronic PVT (EHPVO) on the other hand requires the management of portal hypertension as such and with role for anticoagulation in the setting of underlying prothrombotic state, however data is awaited in those with no underlying prothrombotic states. TIPS and liver transplant may be feasible even in the setting of PVT however proper selection of candidates and type of surgery is warranted. Thrombolysis and thrombectomy have some role. TARE is a new modality for management of HCC with portal vein invasion.

Role of radiotherapy in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review

Many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) present with advanced disease, not amenable to curative therapies such as surgery, transplantation or radiofrequency ablation. Treatment options for this group of patients include transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiation therapy. Especially TACE, delivering a highly concentrated dose of chemotherapy to tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity of chemotherapy, has given favorable results on local control and survival. Radiotherapy, as a therapeutic modality of internal radiation therapy with radioisotopes, has also achieved efficacious tumor control in advanced disease. On the contrary, the role of external beam radiotherapy for HCC has been limited in the past, due to the low tolerance of surrounding normal liver parenchyma. However, technological innovations in the field of radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery, have provided the means of delivering radical doses to the tumor, while sparing normal tissues. Advanced and highly conformal radiotherapy approaches such as stereotactic body radiotherapy and proton therapy, evaluated for efficacy and safety for HCC, report encouraging results. In this review, we present the role of radiotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients not suitable for radical treatment.